On June 16, 2026, Mr Gabriel Pereira, Organ Donation Ambassador from the MOHAN Foundation, conducted an Organ Donation Awareness Talk for the officers of the Goa Legislative Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa.
This initiative was made possible following a meeting between Mr Gabriel Pereira and the Secretary of the Goa Legislative Secretariat, Smt. Namrata Ulman, who readily accepted the proposal to organise an awareness session on organ donation for the Secretariat staff. Recognising organ donation as a noble cause and a pressing need of the hour, the Secretariat extended its full support to the program.
The session commenced with the traditional lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the Hon'ble Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, Dr Mahesh Gaonkar. Addressing the gathering, the Speaker emphasised the importance of organ donation in saving lives and offering a new lease of life to patients suffering from end-stage organ failure. He highlighted how organ donation contributes to successful transplant outcomes and significantly improves the quality of life of recipients.
Mr Gabriel Pereira began the session by screening an educational film by ROTTO-SOTTO, which explained the concepts and processes involved in organ donation. He then shared his personal journey and the inspiration behind becoming an Organ Donation Ambassador. He recounted his family's experience with kidney failure, where his wife had wished to donate a kidney to her sister but was deemed medically ineligible due to hypertension. Subsequently, the husband stepped forward as a donor, resulting in a successful kidney transplant. Six years later, the recipient has resumed her profession as a school teacher and continues to lead a healthy and productive life.
Through a detailed PowerPoint presentation, Mr. Pereira explained the legal framework governing organ donation in India, the objectives of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, and the significance of National Organ Donation Day, observed annually on August 3. He informed the audience that the date commemorates India's first successful heart transplant performed at AIIMS, New Delhi.
The presentation further covered the concepts of circulatory death and brain stem death. Participants were informed that tissues such as eyes, skin and body can be donated after circulatory death, whereas organ donation is possible only in cases of certified brain stem death, often resulting from severe head injuries, road traffic accidents, or brain haemorrhage. Mr Pereira emphasised that organ donation can proceed only after obtaining the consent of the family and after a medical evaluation confirms the suitability of organs for transplantation.
He also explained India's "opt-in" system of organ donation, where individuals voluntarily pledge their organs, contrasting it with the "opt-out" system followed in countries such as Spain. The importance of family consent, even when an individual has pledged to donate, was strongly highlighted.
Participants were encouraged to take the organ donation pledge by scanning a QR code displayed during the presentation and provided on informational material distributed during the session. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) leaflets were also shared with attendees to address common concerns and misconceptions regarding organ donation.
Approximately 80 officers and staff members attended the awareness program, and 20 participants pledged their organs during the session.
The program concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Shri Mohan Gaonkar, the Joint Secretary of the Goa Vidhan Sabha. On behalf of MOHAN Foundation, Mr. Gabriel Pereira presented an appreciation certificate to the Joint Secretary in recognition of the Secretariat's support in organising the awareness program.
MOHAN Foundation expresses its sincere gratitude to the Hon'ble Speaker, Dr Mahesh Gaonkar, Secretary Smt. Namrata Ulman, the Joint Secretary, and the entire Goa Legislative Secretariat, for their commitment to spreading awareness about organ donation and encouraging citizens to make informed decisions that can help save lives.
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