MOHAN Foundation in collaboration with the Network and Alliance of Transplant Coordinators (NATCO) organised an Advanced Transplant Coordinators’ Workshop on the 21^st and 22^nd June 2019 at Hotel Abu Sarovar Portico in Chennai. 

Around 50 transplant coordinators and healthcare professionals from across the country participated in the workshop. Faculty was drawn from India as well as from overseas. Lectures were delivered via Skype by those who were unable to travel to the venue.  The scientific sessions were on the following areas:

• Hand Transplantation – Perspectives of a Recipient, Surgeon and Transplant Coordinator
• Patient Support Groups – Stakeholder Viewpoints
• Social Media as a Tool to Promote Causes
• Islamic Perspectives on Organ Donation

The first session was chaired by Dr. R. Krishnamurthy, Senior Consultant, Reconstructive Medicine and Ms. Pallavi Kumar from MOHAN Foundation had Ms Shreya Siddanagowder, a double upper arm transplant recipient as the first speaker. She took the audience through her journey of transplant and recovery process.  She highlighted the importance of family, doctors and physiotherapists during the recovery process and her immense gratitude to the donor family. This was followed by a talk on the hand transplantation procedure by Dr. K. Subramania Iyer, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi. Dr. Iyer not only highlighted the surgeries that have taken place so far and the patients’ progress, but also mentioned the many patients waiting for a transplant.  He took the transplant coordinators through the basics of hand matching and the surgical process.  He explained the importance of constant counselling for patients and their families, pre and post-transplant.   The next speaker Mr. V. G. Prasad, Transplant Coordinator from Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi spoke of the legal requirements to set up and run a hand transplant centre as well as patients on the waiting list and the large number of patients who contact him frequently. He requested MOHAN Foundation to train counsellors in requesting for hands and upper limbs to be donated along with other organs.  The coordinators found the session both motivational and educational.

The discussion on Patient Support Group was chaired by Ms. Aneka Paul, Tata Trusts and Mrs. Lalitha Raghuram of MOHAN Foundation.  Mrs. Jaya Jairam spoke briefly about her experience as a recipient and on her decision to receive an organ from her mother.  Ms. Sohini Chattopadhyay spoke (via Skype) about how a family does not have many options and avenues to gather information about transplantation and donors in India.  Mrs. Usha Balasubramanian spoke of her experience of caring for her late husband who was a chronic kidney disease patient. Mr. Kamal Shah, Co-Founder of NephroPlus, spoke of his journey of trying various dialysis options, lack of information available to patients and ways to access them. Finally Dr. Suresh Sankar, Nephrologist, spoke of the limitations doctors have and the importance of having a support group.  A panel discussion moderated by
Dr. Sankar had the speakers along with Dr. Balaji Kirushnan, Nephrologist from Kauvery Hospitals discuss the shaping of a support group.

Mr. Adinarayana Dasika, a supporter of the Foundation from the USA chaired a session on using social media as a tool to promote causes like organ donation. The speaker, Dr. Sunil Shroff (MOHAN Foundation), offered a comparison of various social media platforms and explained ways to optimally use them. He mentioned that Twitter has a wide reach and YouTube is most impactful. Using infographics and templates on social media was also shown by Ms Amala – Graphic Designer, Medindia.  An impromptu crowd funding exercise was demonstrated for the participants as well.

Dr. Sunil Shroff chaired the next session on Islamic Perspectives on Organ Donation which began with the reporting of research findings on ‘Islamic Families’ Perceptions on Organ Donation’ by Ms. Ishwarya Thyagarajan, MOHAN Foundation. The findings suggested that most of the families do not support the cause and expressed that the backing of their religious leaders is essential in making a decision. This was followed by a comprehensive talk by Dr. Riadh Fadhil, Director of Qatar Organ Donation Centre, (via Skype) on how the rulings on organ donation, brain death, living donations came about in different countries. He also explained how these ruling help the community to understand the concept and accept organ donation.  This was followed by Mr. Amjid Ali, Project Lead NHS Blood and Transplant UK, (via Skype) sharing his efforts to engage the Islamic community in organ donation discussions.  Mr. Faizur Rahman A, Secretary, Islamic Forum for the Promotion of Moderate Thought, Chennai spoke on how Islam should be viewed not as a religion, but a way of life that has humanitarianism and peace at its core. Moderated by Dr. Sumana Navin, a panel discussed a few case studies, fatwas, rituals and practices in Islamic countries. The panel included Mr. Faizur Rahman, Dr. P. K. Rahiman - HoD, JBAS Centre of Islamic Studies, Madras University, Dr. T. Ameen Ahmed – Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies - Preston International College of Islamic Studies and Mr. Senthil Kumar, Senior Transplant Coordinator, Government Stanley Medical College Hospital and focussed on engaging the Islamic community and garnering their support for the cause.

The workshop came to a conclusion with the transplant coordinators sharing their feedback and Mrs Lalitha Raghuram delivering the vote of thanks.