The second session for the "Angels of Change- Volunteers for Organ Donation" was conducted on August 22, 2015 at Artemis Hospital. The session was coordinated by Ms Chaitanya Jonker from MOHAN Foundation. The objective of the session was to provide an opportunity to the volunteers to interact with medical experts in the field to increase their knowledge and to clarify their doubts.
The panel of medical experts from the Artemis Hospital for the session consisted of Dr. Ramdip Ray (Senior Consultant, Liver Transplant/ HPB Surgeon), Dr. Reshma Tewari ( Head, Critical Care) and Dr. Sameer Kaushal (Senior Consultant and Head, Ophthalmology)
Study material was shared with the volunteers over the mail prior to the session so that they could read the same and come prepared with their queries.
The session started with Ms. Pallavi Kumar giving a presentation on the overview of deceased organ donation in India. The presentation highlighted the state of organ donation across the country, how various states are performing, reasons for variations in the rates of donations in different parts of the country, government & NGO bodies that are working in various states etc. She shared that the southern states are doing much better in India. Kerala, in South, even though a recent entrant into the field of organ donation is doing significantly well and Rajasthan is yet another upcoming state.
The panel was then introduced followed by the volunteers introducing themselves along with their reasons to join this training program. The medical experts present were very impressed with the enthusiasm the young students had.
Dr. Ramdip Ray gave a presentation which emphasized the need for deceased organ donation. He shared many examples of living organ transplantation that he had done and the various issues involved. He then explained the importance of engaging young people as the volunteers for spreading the awareness regarding organ donation. He also discussed the medical aspects related to transplantations with the volunteers.
Post this, the volunteers posed their queries to the medical experts present and the same were effectively addressed by Dr. Ray, Dr. Reshma and Dr. Kaushal. There was a lot of enthusiasm in the room.
The experts later expressed their confidence that such initiatives would prove very effective and definitely have a positive outcome in increasing the awareness levels in the general public.
As expressed by Mr. Agarwal, one of the volunteers undergoing the training, “It was a very engaging and informative session wherein various aspects relating to organ donation, organ transplantation and the associated Issues, particularly involving the family members predicament and their final decision with regard to organ donation of their Deceased Family Member were addressed.
Though ever since I and my family (my wife and two daughters) embarked on the Liver Transplant process early 2012, we have read, heard and seen on 'You Tube' various aspects of organ donation and transplant, but this session definitely added vital new information. Thanks a lot for all that.”