Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Puducherry invited MOHAN foundation for a nurses’ sensitization program on 12^th May 2016.  The program was an initiative taken by Dr. Rajeeva, Nephrologist, PIMS. About 50 participants attended the program which comprised nursing superintendents and tutors, staff nurses and nursing students, and doctors from intensive care unit.  

Ms. Sujatha Manager- Information Systems, MOHAN Foundation addressed the gathering. The program was divided into two sessions. The first session was an awareness session on organ donation which covered the basic concepts of organ/tissue donation and transplantation – what, when, who, why and how.  The importance of donor card, the vital role played by the family during the donation process, the myths and misconceptions about brain death and organ donation were  discussed.

Following that was a session on grief counseling which started with an activity to make the participants understand about grief and the grieving process. The participants were taken through the process of counseling the grieving families and approaching them for organ donation. The do’s and don’ts were explained to the audience with a few case study presentations.

At the end, Dr. Udit Das, Medical Superintendent, PIMS enlightened the participants not only about the importance of organ donation, but also the role played by the nurses in running a successful deceased donation program in a hospital. The program came to an end with a vote of thanks by Dr. Rajeeva.