On April 29, 2026, a Continuing Medical Education (CME) Seminar on Organ Donation and Kidney Transplantation was organized by Naga Hospital Authority, Kohima (NHAK) at Hotel De Oriental Grand, Kohima, Nagaland, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the Organ Donation and Transplantation Programme in the state. The seminar aimed to sensitize healthcare professionals on various aspects of organ donation and renal transplantation, while enhancing institutional preparedness for the initiation of transplant services at NHAK.

The first session, titled “A to Z of Organ Donation,” was delivered by Ms. Pallavi Kumar, Executive Director, MOHAN Foundation (NCR) & Project Manager, Northeast. The session provided a simplified yet comprehensive overview of the organ donation and transplantation continuum to enhance stakeholder understanding. Key topics discussed included the distinction between coma and brain death, supported through explanations and visual aids, as well as various aspects of living organ donation, including eligibility criteria and categories of near relatives permitted to donate. Institutional processes related to organ donation and transplantation were also deliberated upon, highlighting the roles and coordination required among different hospital departments for effective programme implementation.

The second session on Kidney Transplantation was delivered by Dr. Vikieo-o Khruomo, Nephrologist, NHAK & Medical Officer, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Nagaland. The presentation focused on the evaluation and management of renal transplant recipients and covered important clinical and procedural aspects, including timing of referral and its benefits, recipient selection and preparation, HLA testing, clinical and psychosocial assessment, infection risks, immunological compatibility, informed consent, and post-donation follow-up care. Institutional readiness for initiating living kidney transplantation at NHAK was also discussed, with emphasis on existing strengths as well as potential risks, particularly infection transmission and graft rejection associated with immunosuppressive therapy.

Close to 40 participants attended the programme, including nephrologists, senior specialists, medical officers, anaesthetists, postgraduate trainees, transplant coordinators, ICU and OT nursing staff, OT technicians, and representatives from MOHAN Foundation.