On December 10, 2024, the Department of Gastroenterology at AIIMS Rishikesh, in collaboration with MOHAN Foundation, conducted an organ donation awareness session in the Medical Gastroenterology IPD. This session was the second in a series aimed at sensitizing nursing officers at AIIMS Rishikesh about organ donation.

The session was led by Mr. Sanchit Arora, Project Leader at MOHAN Foundation stationed at AIIMS Rishikesh, accompanied by Mr. Deshraj Solanki and Mr. Vrishabh Panchal, Transplant Coordinators at AIIMS Rishikesh. It was attended by the nursing staff from the Department of Gastroenterology.

The session commenced with an introduction to MOHAN Foundation, highlighting its mission and objectives. Mr. Sanchit Arora provided an in-depth explanation of organ donation and its significance, covering the following key topics:

• The importance of organ donation and eligibility to become a donor.

• The distinction between living and deceased donors.

• Organ donation during life and after death.

• The concept of brain death and its difference from a coma.

• Practices in declaring brain death.

• Eye and skin donation, including the steps for preserving corneas post-death.

• An overview of the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994.

• Living kidney transplantation facilities at AIIMS Rishikesh.

• Steps individuals can take to contribute to the cause.

• Common myths and facts about organ donation.

Mr. Arora emphasized the critical need for organ donation in India and encouraged participants to discuss the topic with their families, friends, and colleagues to create a ripple effect of awareness.

The session was interactive, with participants raising several questions, such as:

• How can a patient in need of organs apply to the AIIMS Rishikesh waiting list?

• What is the duration of the organ donation process?

• Are there any age limits for organ donors?

• How should a transplant coordinator be informed about potential brain-dead patients?

• Can a family willing to donate organs contact the transplant team directly?

• What role do nursing officers play in organ donation cases?

Feedback from Participants

• “I now understand how we, as nursing officers, can play a crucial role in identifying and guiding potential donors and their families.”

• “The session inspired me to speak with my own family and friends about organ donation and encourage them to support this cause.”

Approximately six nursing officers attended the session and acknowledged its importance in enhancing their understanding and ability to contribute to the cause of organ donation