On 26^th April 2023, MOHAN Foundation was invited to conduct an awareness session on the Role of Police in Organ Donation. Ms  Jaya Jairam addressed the session of 250 plus in-service police officers that comprised both male and female  personnel.  She began by saying that in India, as road traffic accidents account for the majority of brain deaths, the police are one of the key stakeholders involved in the process of deceased organ donation. Also, she highlighted the importance of them being aware about organ donation so that there are no undue delays in the inquest and post-mortem thus leading to difficulties in the process of organ donation which in turn result in distress among the family members who have said yes to organ donation despite their utmost grief. Jaya elaborated on the concepts of organ donation, with a presentation that was prepared as well presented in Marathi, since majority of the police personnel’s were of the said native.

The topics covered during the session were:

• What is organ donation & its importance
• Facts& statistics of India as compared to the rest of the world
• Types of donors& who can donate
• Difference between cardiac arrest &brain death
• Organ and tissue donation while living and after death
• Definition of death in Indian laws
• Step-by-step Organ donation process and the important role of police in it

Lastly, she addressed all the queries of the participants with regards to organ donation too. A few of the queries asked were as follows –

• If a family donates organs of their loved one, will they be given organ on priority, if a need for organ should arise in their own family, in future?
• How do we know for sure that the organs are distributedin a fair manner and not just given to those who can afford?

The audience was a highly interactive group, eager to learn more about organ donation. Post session too, they gathered around Mrs. Jaya, to resolve a number of queries that they had with relation to the topic.The Organizers at the Academy also assured the Foundation of the complete support of the police in cases of organ donation in the future and stressed the importance of organ donation to save multiple lives.MOHAN Foundation, Mumbai, is thankful to the Police Academy officials for the opportunity.