On October 14, 2021, MOHAN Foundation was invited to conduct an online awareness session on organ donation for the staff at Saral Diagnostics, Delhi. The session was initiated by Dr. Mudit Gupta, Radiologist, Saral Diagnostics after a discussion with representatives from MOHAN Foundation. Dr. Muneet Kaur Sahi was the resource person.

This session was conducted to promote awareness around organ donation among staff at Saral Diagnostics. Dr. Muneet explained the concept of organ donation with the help of a PowerPoint presentation. She initiated the session by introducing the concept of organ donation. The concept of “brain death” was explained with the help of a short informative film. The process of brain death declaration along with various procedures conducted to establish brain death were explained. The role of brain-dead committee and the hospital requirements and eligibility in declaring brain death was discussed. 

The following topics were explained in detail:  

• Organ donation and its need
• Status of organ donation in India
• When and how does organ donation take place
• Organs that can be donated during life and after death
• Transplant Law
• Cornea donation
• Brain death and its declaration, Brain dead committee
• Causes of brain death
• Difference between brain death and coma
• Contraindications to organ donation
• Role of MOHAN Foundation
• Role of Individuals / Public
• Organ donation Myths and Facts

The following were some of the queries raised by the participants:

• What are the tests which can be done to establish brain death?
• What is the role of EEG in establishing brain death?
• What is the procedure to be followed if the family of a brain death patient agrees for donation?
• Which hospitals in Delhi-NCR are equipped to declare brain death /have a brain-dead committee
• How can the public contribute to the cause?
• How can we aid in increasing awareness about organ donation?

The session concluded with the participants being informed about the role of MOHAN Foundation with special reference to grief counselling and ways in which one can become part of the movement to generate awareness about organ donation. On discussion with Dr. Muneet, Dr. Mudit expressed his wish of extending support to the cause through Saral Diagnostics. On further detailed discussion on this Dr. Muneet outlined several ways in which the organization could support MOHAN Foundation, some of the ideas discussed were –

• Support in content development of courses related to organ donation
• Support to the Anudaan programme
• Support to the transplant coordinator’s training
• Support in diagnostic services
• Research related to laws surrounding organ donation
• IEC activities
• Support in counselling activities

Dr. Mudit in his concluding note thanked MOHAN Foundation and Dr. Muneet for the session and exemplary discussion and further extended future support from Saral Diagnostics to engage in awareness activities related to organ donation.

Close to 82 participants attended the session.