On November 27, 2021, MOHAN Foundation was invited to conduct an online awareness session on organ donation for the students & staff of Loreto College, Kolkata to mark the 12^th National Organ Donation Day. The session was organized with the joint initiative of Sister Christine Coutinho, Principal, Loreto College & Dr. Sushma Sahai, Associate Professor, Loreto College. Dr. Muneet Kaur Sahi, Programme Manager, MOHAN Foundation -Delhi-NCR, was the resource person.

Loreto College is a Catholic women's college in Kolkata, India. It is affiliated with the University of Calcutta and focuses in the liberal arts and sciences. It was established in 1912 by the Religious Order of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

At the beginning of the session, Dr. Sushma welcomed all the participants and explained the importance of National Organ Donation Day.  She invited Dr. Muneet to begin the session. She began by asking few questions to the audience-“What is the need to observe National Organ Donation Day? Why it is the need of hour? She then explained the basic concepts of organ donation and transplantation with the help of a simple PowerPoint presentation. The following topics were explained in detail: 

• Organ donation and its need in the society
• When and how does organ donation take place
• Organs that can be donated during life and after death
• Transplant waiting list in India
• Brain death
• Difference between brain death and coma
• Contraindications to organ donation
• Transplant Law
• Role of MOHAN Foundation
• Organ donation Myths and Facts

Dr. Muneet also explained current organ donation rate in India. To engage the audience in discussion, she continued asking questions such as which organs can be donated after circulatory death and brain death? What is signing up or pledging for organ donation? What can you do to spread awareness on organ donation?

While on the subject of brain death, a short movie was shown to give clarity on the subject. The topics of MOHAN Foundation’s courses and training programme on organ donation & Transplant coordination, Eye donation, Green Corridor, ROTTO Kolkata, Brain Death Certification and Brain Death Committee in the Hospitals were also explained.

The participants were very excited during the presentation and contributed to the discussion. They asked many queries. To name a few: 

• When a person is not survived by any kin or close relative, how can a person give consent for organ donation?
• Can eyes be donated if the donor has eye power?
• Can a relative other than the spouse or children give the consent for organ donation?
• Does it cost anything to donate organs?
• After the organ is harvested, how long can it be kept before transplantation?
• Why India doesn’t have Opt-out system for organ donation like European countries?
• Do we have organ wastage in our country?
• Can skin & tissues be preserved?
• Can you tell us about compatibility of blood with tissues and organs for transplantation?
• What are the reasons for organ rejection?

At the end of the session, Sulagna Chattopadhyay, Associate Professor, Department of English, Loreto College thanked Dr. Muneet and said that the session was very insightful and thought provoking.

Close to 75 participants attended the session.