On March 19, 2026, for the very first time, the Centre for Public Health, Panjab University, Chandigarh, hosted an awareness session on organ donation for students pursuing their Master’s in Public Health. The session was conducted by SRDF – MOHAN Foundation with the objective of sensitizing future public health professionals about the importance of organ donation and inspiring them to become advocates for this humanitarian cause.

The program began with a welcome address by Dr. Manoj Kumar, Chairperson, who emphasized the responsibility of public health students to not only acquire academic knowledge but also to engage in community awareness and advocacy.

Mrs. Preeti Gupta initiated the session by introducing MF-SRDF and MOHAN Foundation, along with their mission and vision. She highlighted organ donation as the ultimate “gift of life.” The session covered the following key aspects:

• The concept of organ and tissue donation and its lifesaving impact.
• The current status of organ donation in India, including the gap between requirement and donation rates.
• Comparative statistics of India with other countries, and variations among Indian states. The opt-out policy was also explained.
• Explanation of terms such as live related and live unrelated donation.
• Differences between natural death, brain death, and coma.
• Dispelling myths and misconceptions about organ donation with factual information.
• Real-life stories of successful organ transplants.
• Importance of carrying a Donor Card and the process of pledging for organ donation, with encouragement to discuss the decision with family members.

The session was interactive, with students asking insightful questions that were addressed comprehensively.

Around 50 Master’s students from the Centre for Public Health attended the session. They were encouraged to register with NOTTO (National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization) to contribute to the cause and extend their impact beyond their professional roles.

This awareness session marked a milestone for the Centre for Public Health, Panjab University, as it integrated organ donation advocacy into academic learning. By engaging future public health professionals, the initiative created a ripple effect of awareness that is expected to influence communities positively.

MF-SRDF – MOHAN Foundation extended heartfelt gratitude to the Chairperson and faculty members for their support and for providing the opportunity to conduct this meaningful session.