On November 2, 2023, Mr. Gabriel Pereira, Organ Donation Ambassador from the MOHAN Foundation spoke to the students from Mechanical, Electronics and Computer Engineering sections of Agnel Institute of Technology & Design, Assagao.

 

Gabriel began the presentation by introducing himself and the MOHAN Foundation. He shared with the audience his reasons for joining MOHAN Foundation and promoting the cause.

 

He described the importance of organ donation, the various organs that can be donated, the organs that can be donated by both living and brain-dead individuals, and the definition of brain stem death. All these topics were presented via PowerPoint to the students.

 

He also described the various organ donation pledging options. He displayed the QR code and Form 2 of the driving license, where once the box is ticked, the driving license will indicate that the holder has pledged to be an organ donor. He emphasized that it is most important to inform one's family or next-of-kin about their desire to donate organs, as in India, opt-in policy is followed where the family or next-of-kin’s consent is required to proceed with the donation.

 

A brief video on what is brain death was shown to the participants.

 

Mr. Mahalingesh Bagali, Asst. Professor, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering & NSS Program Officer, AITD Goa expressed gratitude to Gabriel and MOHAN Foundation for raising their awareness of organ donation.

 

A total of 80 students attended the session, and ten pledged to donate their organs.