MOHAN Foundation conducted an  Seminar on Organ Donation for MSW Students at Guru Nanak College, Velachery Chennai on 25^th July, 2023.  It was a joint effort of Guru Nanak College and Social Workers Association for Social  Innovation (SWASI). 40 students and staff participated in the session. Ms. Arshiya Fathima. H (Helpline counsellor) & Ms. Kavitha Aneesh, Transplant Coordinator & Marketing Coordinator) of MOHAN Foundation were the resource persons for the session. 

Ms. Arshiya began the session with a Tamil movie quiz to get the students interested as well as show them how the cause can be negatively depicted in mass media. It was a very interactive session. 

After the quiz, she started her talk on the Concepts of Organ Donation. She explained the role of MOHAN Foundation. She spoke of the need for organs, what and when donation can happen. She explained brain death, and the difference between brain death and coma. She spoke of tissue and voluntary body donation and also explained the myths & scams on organ donation. She also gave information on the free service of Organ Donation Helpline 1800 103 7100. At the end of her talk Arshiya played an educational video on brain death.

The  interaction with Transplant Coordinator Ms. Kavitha Aneesh was to give an idea about career options in the transplant field.  She shared two cases that she had coordinated, aiming to help the group understand her counseling approach and difficulties. She explained about Transplant Coordinator courses offered by MOHAN Foundation, its structure, value and fee structure. 

The participants raised a few queries about:

1. Can an alcoholic and chain smoker be a donor?

2. Can deceased donations happen between family members?

3. Is a patient with lung cancer a candidate for a transplant ? 

4. Can a mentally challenged person be a donor? 

5. What is the career scope for a transplant coordinator?

All queries were answered. 

MOHAN Foundation wholeheartedly thanks Dr. K. Shanthi (Dean of Humanities & HoD of MSW Department ) and Dr. Jasmine Bernard (Asst. Prof) and team for support in organizing this awareness seminar.