On August 10, 2018, MOHAN Foundation conducted an awareness talk on organ donation for students of Dept. of Social Work, Jamia Millia Islamia, New-Delhi. The session was also attended by students pursuing Human Resource Management and Advanced Diploma in Public Health. The talk was a part of their academic orientation programme. Dr. Sanjay Ingole (Assistant Professor, Dept. of Social Work) organised the session and Ms. Anindita Sabath (Transplant Coordinator, MF Delhi-NCR) coordinated it. Dr. Muneet Kaur Sahi (Programme Manager, MF Delhi-NCR) was the resource person.

Since many years, MOHAN Foundation has been closely associated with the Department of Social Work, Jamia Millia Islamia University, courtesy Dr Rashmi Jain (Assistant Professor, Dept. of Social Work) a supporter of the Foundation, who strongly believes in the cause.

The session began with an inspiring video on organ donation. Post screening of the video, Dr. Muneet asked the students for their inputs. Students shared that it was a very moving and an emotional video. This helped Dr. Muneet to introduce the subject and the seriousness of the cause. She discussed the huge gap between the demand and supply of organs and India’s estimated donation rate at mere 0.80 per million population (pmp) in comparison to other European countries who are between 35-50 pmp. She provided an in-depth understanding of the concept of brain-death, who can donate organs, when can organs be donated and what all organs and tissues can be donated. She also gave a brief idea about the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 and tried to give a clear picture about the myths and misconceptions about organ donation that generally exist. The process of corneal donation and how each participant can at least spread awareness on tissue donation was also discussed.

The participants had certain queries which were answered effectively by MF representatives. To name a few:

1. Can a diabetic patient donate corneas?

2. A recent report of NOTTO says that the rate of heart transplant has increased rapidly in the past two years. What is the reason for this sudden increase?

3. How can I join the Transplant Coordinators’ Training Programme?

4. How can I generate the donor card online?

The session ended with another video on organ donation. Close to 60 students participated the session and approx. 20 Form 7 were picked up.