On August 27, 2025, the Rishikesh Eye Bank at AIIMS Rishikesh, in collaboration with MOHAN Foundation, organized an awareness session on organ donation for the staff of the Department of Medicine Emergency. This session was the second in a series of initiatives planned during the 40th Eye Donation Fortnight to sensitize nursing officers at AIIMS Rishikesh to the vital importance of organ and tissue donation.
The session was conducted by Dr. Apoorva Chaudhary, Senior Resident, Department of Ophthalmology, AIIMS Rishikesh, Mr. Mahipal Chauhan, Manager, Rishikesh Eye Bank, and Mr. Pawan Singh, Counsellor, Rishikesh Eye Bank, with support from Mr. Sanchit Arora, Project Leader, MOHAN Foundation stationed at AIIMS Rishikesh, and Mr. Alok Rana, Technician, Rishikesh Eye Bank. Participants included nursing staff from the Departments of Trauma Emergency and Critical Care.
The session commenced with an introduction to Rishikesh Eye Bank, highlighting its mission and objectives. Dr. Apoorva Chaudhary delivered a detailed talk, covering key topics such as:
• The concept and significance of eye donation
• Donor eligibility and procedures for eye donation at home
• Steps for corneal preservation after death
• The number of corneal transplants performed at AIIMS Rishikesh
• The role of nursing officers in the donation process
• Myths and facts surrounding eye donation
Mr. Singh emphasized the importance of timely communication in death cases, explaining how hospital attendants, housekeeping staff, and security guards inform the eye bank so that “no family should go home without being asked about cornea donation.” Mr. Mahipal shared that the Rishikesh Eye Bank has facilitated 1,120 corneal donations, of which 700 corneal transplants have been successfully performed at AIIMS Rishikesh—restoring the gift of sight to 700 individuals.
Mr. Arora highlighted the importance of deceased organ donation. He elaborated on the hospital’s in-house brain death committee and donor optimization protocols. He also shared a recent case of organ donation at AIIMS Rishikesh, providing practical examples to illustrate the process effectively. He also recommended watching the film Aye Zindagi, available on Zee5 & Youtube, for deeper insights into the subject.
The session was attended by approximately 14 nursing officers, who expressed their appreciation for the initiative. They acknowledged that the session enhanced their understanding of organ and tissue donation, clarified misconceptions, and highlighted their critical role in supporting this noble cause.
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