Awareness program was organized  for the students of social work department and NSS volunteers on 6th May, 2022 at St. Joseph’s College (Arts and Science), Kovur, Chennai.  About 30 students and a few faculty attended the program. Dr Hemal Kanvinde, Quality Assurance Officer, Ms Preetha Baskar, Project Executive  of MOHAN Foundation and interns from Madras Medical Mission College of Health Sciences, Chennai conducted the sessions. Students were given green ribbons and information brochures.

Mr A Arockia Raj, Head, Department of Social work started the session with an introduction on the the need to understand Organ Donation and  previous partnerships with MOHAN Foundation.

Ms Preetha Baskar briefed about the concepts on organ donation, law, process for pledging organs, statistics and relevant facts. She also dispelled the misconceptions on organ donation. Narration of a donor and a recipient story was done. Followed by screening a video explaining the brain stem death. 

Dr Hemal Kanvinde commenced the next session with an inspiring story of a kidney transplant recipient. The entire happenings in the patient’s life  from  diagnosis of disease  to post transplant care was narrated. The story really made a change among the audience, they listened to it attentively. This was followed  by a short introduction to the transplant coordinators courses. 

Students and faculty raised their queries about organ donation in Q & A Session. The following questions were clarified by Ms Preetha and Dr. Hemal Kanvinde.

1. Can a living person donate his/her corneas?
2. Is organ donation and transplantation possible between different genders?
3. Can a kidney recipient donate his/her received kidney after his demise?
4. Is there any illegal organ transplantation that has happened in India?
5. Is chewing gum equivalent to smoking in causing harm?

A quiz was conducted to cheer up the students. It was a fun quiz yet knowledgeable. Students enjoyed answering the quiz. The session ended with a vote of thanks by a student. 

MOHAN Foundation thanks the college management and Mr A Arockia Raj, Head, Department of Social work for their coordination.