On January 8, 2025, the Division of Organ Transplant at AIIMS Rishikesh, in collaboration with MOHAN Foundation, conducted an awareness session on organ donation for the nursing officers in the Trauma ICU. This was the fourth session in a series aimed at sensitizing healthcare professionals about the critical importance of organ donation.

The session was led by Mr. Sanchit Arora, Project Leader at MOHAN Foundation stationed at AIIMS Rishikesh, with support from Mr. Deshraj Solanki and Mr. Vrishabh Panchal, Transplant Coordinators at the institute. Participants included nursing staff from the Department of Trauma Surgery and Critical Care.

The session commenced with an introduction to MOHAN Foundation, highlighting its mission and objectives. Mr. Sanchit Arora delivered an informative presentation on organ donation, addressing key topics such as:

• The significance of organ donation and donor eligibility.

• The differences between living and deceased donors.

• Organ donation processes during life and after death.

• Brain death versus coma.

• Procedures for declaring brain death.

• Eye and skin donation, including steps for corneal preservation post-death.

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

• Living kidney transplantation facilities at AIIMS Rishikesh.

• Steps individuals can take to support organ donation.

• Myths and facts about organ donation.

• The roles of nursing officers in the organ donation process.

Mr. Arora emphasized the urgent need for organ donation in India and encouraged participants to initiate conversations about it with their families, friends, and colleagues to promote broader awareness. To reinforce his message, he recommended watching the film Aye Zindagi, available on Zee5.

Mr. Solanki provided a detailed explanation of the hospital's brain death committee and donor optimization protocols. He also shared insights from a recent organ donation case at AIIMS Rishikesh, illustrating practical examples of the process.

The session was highly interactive, with participants asking several pertinent questions, such as:

• Can nursing officers discuss organ donation with the deceased's family?

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

• How long after brain death declaration can organ donation be performed?

• What documentation is mandatory for brain death certification?

Approximately eight nursing officers attended the session and acknowledged its value in enhancing their understanding of organ donation, its significance, and their role in supporting the cause.