On April 20, 2022,  an awareness session was conducted for about 75 social work students of Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science and Technology, Rajahs Arts & Science College and Adaikala Matha College. Dr Hemal Kanvinde, Quality Assurance Officer, Ms Preetha Baskar, Project Executive and Mr Ganesh, Marketing Coordinator from MOHAN Foundation conducted the session.

The session started with a video celebrating the Gift of Life. Ms Preetha Baskar elaborated the concepts, why, when, which and how organ donation can be done. She narrated a story of a donor and a recipient to motivate the students and dispelled the myths surrounding organ donation.

Question and answer session was conducted. Students raised a lot of questions. The following questions were answered by Dr Hemal Kanvinde and Ms Preetha Baskar.

1.  Within how many hours eyes can be retrieved after someone’s demise?
2.  Is it possible to retrieve organs from a deceased person who consumed poison?
3.  What are all the organs that can be donated after Brain Stem Death?
4.  Is there any age criteria for organ donation?
5.  Can all organs be donated after brain stem death?
6.  How organs are allocated in Tamil Nadu?
7.  Are commercial dealings or organ traffic still  happening?
8.  Have any human beings received organs from animals?
9.  Will organ donation happen if family members don't give consent to donate?

Dr Hemal Kanvinde started out the next session with a narration of an inspiring story of a kidney transplant recipient. This story briefed the sufferings of a Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Patient and how she was given a gift of life through a life saving organ. She also emphasized the role of  a transplant coordinator/ medical social worker.

A short video of a heart transplant recipient was played and it made the audience aware of the importance of organ donation.

Mr Ganesh gave talk on career choices in the filed or Organ Donation and Transplantation. He spoke of the courses offered by MOHAN Foundation to become a trained transplant coordinator, by explaining the requirements and scope.

MOHAN Foundation thanks Dr Anand Jerard Sebastine, Head and Associate Professor, Department of Social Work for organizing this seminar by engaging the students from nearby colleges and for his coordination and support.