On November 12, 2024, MOHAN Foundation conducted an awareness session on organ donation at the Income Tax Office, Rishikesh. The session was organized following an invitation from Mr. Rajesh Mehra, Income Tax Officer, Department of Income Tax, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand.

The talk was delivered by Mr. Sanchit Arora, Project Leader at MOHAN Foundation, stationed at AIIMS Rishikesh. The session was attended by staff members from the Income Tax Office.

The session began with Mr. Arora engaging the participants by inviting them to share their existing knowledge about organ donation. He then delivered a detailed presentation covering various aspects of organ donation, including:

• What is organ donation, and why is it important?

• Eligibility to become an organ donor

• Differences between live and deceased donation

• Organ donation during life and after death

• Understanding brain death

• Distinction between coma and brain death

• Eye donation and guidelines for preserving corneas after death

• Key provisions of the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994

• Role of MOHAN Foundation in promoting organ donation

• How individuals can contribute to this noble cause

• Dispelling myths and presenting facts about organ donation

One participant shared a personal story about a family member who had been on a ventilator and later declared brain dead. The participant expressed regret that the medical team had not approached their family about organ donation at the time. He felt that, had they been informed, the family might have considered donating organs.

The session was highly interactive, with participants actively engaging in the discussion and asking insightful questions. Some of the queries raised included:

• Is coma the same as brain death?

• What is the time frame for retrieving organs and tissues after death?

• How are organs allocated by government and private hospitals?

• Can individuals who wear spectacles donate their eyes?

• How much time is given to families to make a decision regarding organ donation in cases of brain death?

• How can someone pledge to donate their organs?

• Is there a specific age limit for organ donation?

• How can individuals join MOHAN Foundation?

Approximately 15 participants attended the session, and many expressed their willingness to pledge for organ donation after discussing it with their families. The session succeeded in spreading awareness and addressing misconceptions about organ donation, fostering a positive attitude among the attendees.

This session served as a valuable opportunity to educate and motivate individuals to consider organ donation as a meaningful contribution to society.