an awareness session on Organ Donation for DTC Bus conductors at DTC Training School

On October 12, 2023, MOHAN Foundation Delhi NCR office conducted an organ donation awareness session for DTC bus conductors in DTC Training School. Ms. Simran Anand, Programme Officer, MF Delhi NCR, was the speaker for the session.

Ms. Simran began the session by asking participants if they have a driving license and if they are aware that there is an option for being an organ donor. She then explained the current status of organ donation in India. She also explained the basic concepts of organ donation and transplantation with the help of a PowerPoint presentation. One of the participants also shared his personal experience where his mother was suffering from blood cancer. Later, she passed away due to brain death, and he was not able to donate any organs or tissues due to her medical condition. The following topics were explained in detail:

• What is organ donation and it’s need in the society.

• Who can be an organ donor?

• Explanation about live and deceased donor

• Organs that can be donated during life and after death

• Brain death

• Eye donation and steps required to preserve cornea after death.

• Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994

• Role of MOHAN Foundation

• What an individual can do to contribute for this noble cause

• Myths and facts about organ donation

• Difference between coma and brain death

A short informative film on brain death was shown and the importance of family consent in the process of organ donation was also explained in detail. Participants also shared their views about the cause.

Over all the session was very interactive where participants enthusiastically contributed to the discussion and asked many queries to name a few:

• If an individual has an eye-sight problem, will he or she be allowed to donate eyes?

• If confidential information about the recipient is disclosed to the donor family,

• Can new-born babies donate their organs?

• Is there any chance that a brain-dead patient can lead a normal life in the future?

• If kidney must be transplanted to two patients at the same time, one from a poor economic background and other from a high-income profile, whom we will support for transplantation?

Close to 60 participants attended the session.