“Adding meaning to someone’s life is what is important,” said Dr. K.P. Malathishiri, Principal, Shri Krishnaswamy College for Women, Annanagar, Chennai. She was speaking on the occasion of an awareness programme on the need and importance of organ donation organized by the college’s National Service Scheme (NSS Unit 1) with the help of MOHAN Foundation on 28^th June 2012.

Dr. Sumana Navin and Ms. Sindhuja of MOHAN Foundation started the session with an ad spot and flash presentations on organ donation, which captured the audience’s interest. They were soon joined by Ms. Rohini, noted actor and Dr. J. Amalorpavanathan, Convenor, Cadaver Transplant Programme, Govt. of Tamil Nadu.

The NSS volunteers took the audience of about 300 students through an interesting presentation on myths and facts about organ donation and transplantation. Dr. Amalorpavanathan explained the concept of brain death to the students in an easy-to-understand manner using simple analogies. Ms. Rohini then took the stage and said that her husband and she had pledged to become organ donors way back in 1997. She added that everyone needed to be aware about the procedures involved in organ and tissue donation and what needed to be done to facilitate the process when someone passed away. Dr. Amalorpavanathan at this juncture highlighted the role that transplant coordinators, like Sindhuja, played in counseling and motivating families about organ donation. Their work in the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital has helped a number of poor patients receive a transplant.

Following this, in a very inspiring gesture, Dr. Malathishiri, her brother and Dr. Girija, NSS Coordinator took a pledge to donate their organs and help society in a meaningful manner. The programme captured the essence of the motto of the National Service Scheme (N.S.S) -  "Not Me, Not You, But We".