6^th August, 2013 was observed as Organ Donation Day. The media had given wide coverage to the issue. The importance of donating organs and tissues to save the lives of patients suffering from end-stage organ failure was highlighted. A few employees of Siemens, Nungambakkam, Chennai who were intrigued by the newspaper articles approached their Human Resource Department (HRD) to check if an awareness programme could be organised at the office. The HRD, Siemens invited MOHAN Foundation, Chennai to organise a session on organ donation on the same day.

The session was conducted by Mrs. Sujatha Niranjan, MOHAN Foundation, Chennai. A group of 30 employees attended the programme. The following aspects were highlighted in the programme:

• The need for organ donation
• Who can donate organs and tissues
• When and what organs and tissues can be donated
• About brain death
•  About the importance of signing up for a donor card

The participants raised queries about organ sharing and allocation, the time factor involved in organ donation and transplantation, contraindications in donating organs and tissues. At the end of the session, 21 employees showed their support for the cause by taking a pledge to become an organ donor.