Awareness session on organ donation for National Cadet Corps, Haryana

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  Ms. Mareena taking the session

  

  Cadets attending the session

  

  Ms. Mareena hearing out a cadet`s query

  

  Col. Yadav addressing the students about the importance of discussing organ donation with family members

  

  The cadets applauding MOHAN Foundation the NCC way

  On January 6, 2018, MOHAN Foundation was invited by Col. Yadav to conduct an awareness session for National Cadet Corps (NCC) Cadets at Bilaspur Chowk, Haryana. NCC in India was formed with the National Cadet Corps Act of 1948. It was raised on 15 July 1948. The origin of NCC can be traced back to the ‘University Corps’, which was created under the Indian Defence Act 1917, with the objective to make up the shortage of the Army. It is open to school and college students on voluntary basis. Ms. Mareena Thomas, Programme Officer, MOHAN Foundation (MF) was the resource person for the talk. She was accompanied by Mr. Pawan Shekhawat, Transplant Coordinator, MF. This was the second time that MF was invited by Col. Yadav to conduct a session on organ donation for NCC cadets. Col. Yadav is very motivated for the cause as he feels, if he was aware of eye donation he would have taken the decision to donate when his mother passed away. Thus he personally feels it is a very important subject that must be discussed in every household through the NCC cadets.

   

  The session started with Col. Yadav introducing MOHAN Foundation and thanking them for coming again. Ms. Mareena began the session by giving a brief outline of the activities done by MOHAN Foundation. She explained what organ donation was, why it is a need of the hour, which are the organs and tissues that can be donated and where India is with respect to other countries on the world map.

   

  The cadets were made aware that in case of cardiac death, not just the eyes, but the skin and a lot of tissues can be donated. They were further explained about what brain death is and how one can donate their organs and thus save many lives. Also the myths and barriers to organ donation were covered in detail.

   

  The cadets asked technical questions like:

  • How much time does it take for the retrieval of organs
  • How much time does it take for cornea donation
  • Who cannot be an organ donor
  • Who certifies Brain Death in a hospital

   

  At the end of the session Mareena urged the cadets to discuss about organ donation with their family and understand how they feel about the cause. She stated that the intention of the session was to provide information on organ donation and help people understand that there is a lifesaving option that one can exercise after death of their loved one.

   

  There were 250 Students and 10 donor cards (age of 18 and above) were picked up. 

  
  
  Source-Mr. Pawan Shekhawat