On July 30, 2021, a public awareness session was jointly organized by MOHAN Foundation in association with State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) Haryana. The session was conducted by Dr. Sanaa Bhadwal (Project Leader) from MOHAN Foundation and Ms. Deepti Kumari (Transplant Coordinator) from SOTTO Haryana for the employees of Civil Surgeon office, Rohtak.

The session was arranged after a discussion with Dr Anil Birla, Civil Surgeon Rohtak, he also encouraged his employees to attend the awareness session. The session was initiated by Dr. Sanaa with a brief introduction about MOHAN Foundation, SOTTO and the purpose of the session.

In the session concepts of organ donation (living & deceased) and brain death were explained, the need for organ donation in India was also greatly stressed upon. The role of the general public and ways in which they could contribute to spread awareness about organ donation was discussed.

The following topics were explained in detail:   

• What is Organ donation?
• Why do we need organ donation?
• Laws governing organ donation
• Who can donate organs?
• Contraindications to organ donation
• When and how does organ donation take place
• Organs that can be donated during life and after death
• Eye donation
• Brain death
• Difference between brain death and coma
• Organ donation Myths and Facts
• Donor story
• What can the public do?

The participants were made aware of the efforts currently underway to establish a deceased organ donation program at PGIMS, they were also made aware of the process of eye donation, the eye donation program at PGIMS Rohtak and across Haryana. The concept of organ donation pledge and its importance was also explained to the participants.

The session ended with few questions from the participants regarding body donation and the procedure involved in registration for body donation, the participants also expressed their desire to discuss about the concept of organ donation with their family and friends.

The session ended with the distribution of Information pamphlets on organ donation among the participants, they were also encouraged to initiate dialogue about organ donation. The participants were advised to contact Dr. Sanaa and Ms. Deepti at the SOTTO office at PGIMS in case of any doubts and misconceptions on the subject.

Close to 20 participants attended the session.