On August 9, 2017, MOHAN Foundation conducted an awareness session on organ donation for students of Std XI & XII of Manav Sthali School, New Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi. This was the third session in the school series organised by Times of India as part of organ donation drive, the previous two sessions being held at Sachdeva Public School and  ASN Senior Secondary School respectively.

 

Dr. Supriya Sharma (Teacher Coordinator) shared with Dr. Muneet (resource person for the session from MOHAN Foundation) that a class XII student of the school had donated her organs at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in the year 2011. The student, Harshita Bharech (17 years old) was declared brain dead on April 29 and the parents decided to donate her organs. Her liver, kidneys, corneas and heart valves were retrieved thereby giving new lease of life to six people.

 

In the session, Dr. Muneet imparted useful information regarding organ and tissue donation to the students. She explained what organ & tissue donation is, why people need transplants, who can become an organ and tissue donor, what organs and tissues can be donated, how the donation process works, how are organs and tissue removed and why families need to discuss and know each others donation decision.

 

There was an interesting anecdote during the talk when one of the teachers who had donated a kidney for her brother supplemented the information imparted by Dr Muneet about a specific aspect of the donation process viz. 'how do the transplant surgeons decide best fit between the donor and the recipient in terms of matching'.

 

Close to 350 students attended the session.