On October 8 & 9, 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.

The session was attended by the on-duty staff in the Special Ward Unit 1 & 7, PGIMS. The participants included staff nurses & support staff (Bearers, Sweepers).

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 and the status of organ donation and transplantation in the state of Haryana was also discussed. The concept of brain death declaration, difference between brain death and coma was discussed in detail.

The concept of organ donation pledge and its importance was also explained to the participants. The role of the healthcare workers 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
• What can the healthcare workers do?

The session was concluded with the distribution of information pamphlets on organ donation among the participants. The participants were advised to contact Dr. Sanaa and Ms. Deepti at the SOTTO office at PGIMS in case of any clarification on the subject.

Close to 14 participants attended the talk.