For the first time in Andhra Pradesh, a one-week Transplant Coordinators’ Training Programme was conducted by Jeevandan, Government of Andhra Pradesh in association with MOHAN Foundation from May 16 - 20, 2022 at the NRI General and Super Speciality Hospital, Guntur. It aimed to address the training needs of the transplant coordinators and covered the different aspects of organ donation and transplantation during the course of five days. The training drew 103 delegates from Andhra Pradesh.

Smt. Vidadala Rajini, the honourable Minister for Health, Medical & Family Welfare, Government of Andhra Pradesh was the chief guest for the inaugural ceremony. While addressing the audience, she reiterated the importance of donating organs and said that such trainings would help the professionals facilitate more donations and thus saving many lives. Also present at the event were Dr. M. Raghavendra Rao, Director of Medical Education, Dr. K Rambabu, Director VIMS & Chief Transplant Coordinator, Jeevandan.

The faculty from MOHAN Foundation included Mrs. Lalitha Raghuram, Country Director, MOHAN Foundation and Mrs. Sujatha Suriyamoorthi, Associate Director - Courses. The external faculty included

• Dr. V. Srikanth, Liver Transplant Surgeon, NRI General and Super Speciality Hospital
• Dr. Aravind Roy, LV Prasad Eye Institute
• Dr. Ramana S.S.V, Prof. of Orthopaedics, Government General Hospital
• Dr. CH Sudhakarbabu, MD Associate Professor of Anatomy, Guntur Medical College
• Dr. Mahesh, Heart and Lung Transplant Surgeon, KIMS Hyderabad
• Dr. Prem Anand John, Consultant, Heart & Lung Transplantation, KIMS Hospitals, Hyderabad
• Dr. Ammana, Nephrologist, Arun Kidney Center, Vijaywada
• Dr. M.V. Vishwanath, Asst Prof of Nephrology
• Dr. G. Srinivasa Rao Prof and HOD of Urology,M/s NRI Hospital, Chinnakakani
• Dr V Kiran Chand, Asst. Prof. of Neuro Surgery, NRI General and Super Speciality Hospital
• Dr. K Bharathi, Consultant - Nephrologist, Arun Kidney Centre
• Dr. K. Vara Prasad Rao, Prof. & HOD of Nephrology, NRI General and Super Speciality Hospital
• Dr. M V Viswanath, Asst. Prof. of Nephrology, NRI General and Super Speciality Hospital
• Dr. G. Srinivasa Rao, Prof. & Head, Dept. of Urology, NRI General and Super Speciality Hospital
• Dr. Chandra Sekhar, Department of Forensic Medicine, Government General Hospital, Guntur
• Dr. Jayapal Reddy, Liver Transplant Surgeon, NRI General and Super Speciality Hospital
• Dr. Chinta Rama Krishna, Nephrologist, Vedanta Hospitals
• Dr. T. Pavan, Prof. of Psychiatry, NRI General and Super Speciality Hospital

Educational films on brain-stem death, brain stem death testing, demonstration of Apnoea testing, hand transplant were shown during the training. A simulation video on approaching families for organ donation was also screened and discussed during the training. The training curriculum included role play which helped the participants learn the good and poor approaches of organ donation conversation. A post-training examination was conducted on the last day of the training.

The training was concluded with a valedictory programme. Sri M. Tirumala Krishna Babu, Principal Secretary to Government, Department of Health, Medical & Family Welfare, Government of Andhra Pradesh graced the occasion. In his address, he reiterated the pivotal role played by the transplant coordinators in deceased donation programme and appreciated their efforts towards saving lives. The participants were issued their course completion certificate and the training resource manuals.