On September 27, 2023, Mr. Gabriel Pereira, Organ Donation Ambassador from the MOHAN Foundation spoke to the faculty and staff of Holy Cross Indo-German Techno Centre, Marna, Siolim, Goa about organ donation.
Holy Cross Indo-German Techno Centre is an institute in the picturesque village of Siolim in North Goa that offers courses in home nursing and cuisine and beverages.
Earlier, Gabriel had obtained permission from Ms. Milan Asolkar, the school's principal, to hold a lecture on organ donation for the students and faculty. Ms. Asolkar agreed to MOHAN Foundation conducting the session and additionally gave permission to hold sessions for its two other centres in Siolim, Goa.
Gabriel, began the presentation by introducing himself and the MOHAN Foundation. He shared with the audience his reasons for joining MOHAN Foundation and promoting the cause. He also told them that MOHAN Foundation was adjudged the best NGO for doing exemplary work in the field of organ donation by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO).
Gabriel described the importance of organ donation, the various organs that can be donated, the organs that can be donated by both living and brain-dead individuals, and the definition of brain stem death. All of these topics were presented via PowerPoint to the faculty.
He also described the various organ donation pledging options. He displayed the QR code and Form 2 of the driving licence, where once the box is ticked, the driving licence will indicate that the holder has pledged to be an organ donor. However, Gabriel emphasised that it is most important to inform one's family or next-of-kin about their desire to donate organs, as in India, opt-in policy is followed where the family or next-of-kin’s consent is required to proceed with the donation.
A brief video on brain death as well as "Live Beyond Life," a brief animated presentation on organ donation was also shown to the participants.
Ms. Asolkar expressed gratitude to Gabriel and MOHAN Foundation for raising their awareness of organ donation.
A total of thirteen individuals attended the session, and ten pledged to donate their organs
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