Under the aegis of AIIMS Rishikesh, the MOHAN Foundation conducted an organ donation awareness session at the Department of MLT, Government PG Degree College, Rishikesh in association with Division of Organ Transplant, AIIMS Rishikesh on January 10, 2026.
The invitation was extended by Prof. Gulshan Kumar Dhingra, Coordinator at Department of MLT and Microbiology, Government PG Degree College, Rishikesh. The Guest of Honor for the session was Dr. Shalabh Johri, HOD, Microbiology, Doon Medical University.
The session featured presentations by Mr. Vrishabh Panchal, Transplant Coordinator, Division of Organ Transplant, AIIMS Rishikesh, and Mr. Sanchit Arora, Project Leader, MOHAN Foundation (AIIMS Rishikesh), and was also joined by Mr. Arjun Paliwal and Ms. Safiya Hasan, staff of MLT Department and Mr. Arun Sharma, Program Executive, MOHAN Foundation, Uttarakhand, with active participation from the students.
Mr. Vrishabh Panchal opened the session by explaining key aspects of organ transplantation and the status of organ donation in India, covering kidney transplant waiting lists in Asia, advantages of transplant surgeries over alternative treatments, recent advances in transplant procedures, and both living and deceased donation.
He also showed a video presentation to explain brain death, its criteria, and how it differs from coma.
Mr. Sanchit Arora addressed common perceptions, myths, and facts related to organ donation. He explained the process of registering and pledging organs after death and shared MOHAN Foundation’s 24/7 helpline number. His presentation covered key aspects of organ donation in India, including myths and facts, the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, the goals and objectives of MOHAN Foundation, including the Anudaan initiative, and the various ways individuals can contribute to the cause.
A motivational video highlighting the life-changing impact of organ donation was screened. Mr. Arora encouraged participants to initiate conversations on organ donation with their families, friends, and colleagues and recommended the film Aye Zindagi (available on Zee5 and YouTube) for further understanding.
Following this, Dr. Shalabh Johri spoke about the importance of organ and whole-body donation. He emphasised that organ donation not only offers a new lease of life to individuals in need but also stands as a strong example of social responsibility.
The session remained highly interactive, with participants raising queries on organ viability following the declaration of brain death, the key differences between brain death and circulatory death, the possibility of donation in cases of death at home, and whether organ donation is possible without prior registration.
The programme concluded with an expression of appreciation for the efforts of AIIMS Rishikesh and MOHAN Foundation. Several participants expressed interest in discussing organ donation with their families and in making pledges.
The session was attended by approximately 100 participants, and one participant had already pledged for corneal donation.
Media Coverage: https://garhninad.com/2026/01/collaborative-educational-program-on-organ-donation-awareness-in-the-university-campus/
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