MOHAN Foundation under the aegis of Jeevandan, Andhra Pradesh conducted a one week Transplant Coordinators’ Training Programme from 14^th to 18^th October 2019 at Visakha Institute of Medical Sciences, Visakhapatnam. There were 40 participants from Delhi, Assam, West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. This was the 66^th training programme conducted by MOHAN Foundation. The training programme was supported by the Tata Trusts.

 

Present at the inaugural function were Dr. K. Satyavara Prasad, Chief Transplant Coordinator and Member Convener, Jeevandan, Andhra Pradesh, and the MOHAN Foundation team which comprised Mrs. Lalitha Raghuram, Country Director, Dr. Sumana Navin, Course Director, Ms. Sujatha Suriyamoorthi, Manager - Information Systems and Ms Ann Alex, Programme Associate.

 

Sessions on various topics such as concepts of organ donation, the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, importance of spreading awareness, counselling the bereaved families and approaching them for organ donation, case studies and role of a transplant coordinator, history of transplantation, setting up a deceased donation programme in a hospital, donor stories, overview of deceased donation in India, deceased donation in medico-legal cases, religion and organ donation, role of social media in organ donation and transplantation and ethical issues in organ donation & transplantation were taken by Mrs. Lalitha Raghuram, Dr. Sumana Navin, Ms. Sujatha Suriyamoorthi, Dr. Bhanu Chandra and Ms. Ann Alex. Group activities, role plays and quiz on organ donation and transplantation were moderated by the team. Educative videos and awareness films were also screened during the training.

 

Dr. Satyavara Prasad spoke about the progress of Jeevandan, Andhra Pradesh. The requirement of voluntary body donation was shared by Mrs Kanya Kumari, Savitribai Phule Education Society. The faculty from Apollo Hospitals Health City was invited to talk on brain stem death.

 

Dr. Venkata Saibabu, Consultant Anaesthesiologist, gave a brief introduction on the overview of transplant coordinators and why it is important for the coordinators to understand the concept of brain death.  Dr. Atchyuth Rao Gongada, Head of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, explained in detail about identifying a potential brain dead donor. Dr. T. Mohan S Maharaj lucidly brought out the points one needs to know when maintaining a potential brain dead donor. Dr. Krishnam Raju Penmatsa, Consultant Nephrologist, Indus Hospital and OneLife Clinic in a very interesting manner helped the participants understand the physiology of kidneys, kidney diseases and the increasing burden of chronic kidney disease.  Dr. P R K Prasad, Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Pinnacle Hospital explained the process of skin donation, banking and transplantation and the need for skin donation. Dr. G. Venkateswar Reddy, Head and Consultant Cardiologist, Star Pinnacle Heart Centre began the session with the Basics of Heart Failure followed by Dr. Deepak Gowda G, Consultant Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon explaining Heart Transplantation. Dr. Srinivas Nistala, Consultant Hepatologist, Apollo Hospitals Health City helped the participants understand the basics of liver diseases and liver failure. Mrs. C H Indira, Transplant Coordinator, Pinnacle Hospital listed out the forms required for a living related transplant and the role of a transplant coordinator in living donor programme. Dr. Muralidhar Nambada, Consultant Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals spoke about pre-operative and post-operative care of the recipients in Liver Transplant.        

 

The training concluded with the valedictory function. Dr. G. Venkateswar Reddy, Head and Consultant Cardiologist, Star Pinnacle Heart Centre gave away the completion certificates to the participants. MOHAN Foundation team was represented by Dr. Bhanu Chandra, Manager – Operations, Ms. Sujatha Suriyamoorthi and Ms Ann Alex.

 

MOHAN Foundation acknowledges Pinnacle Hospital and Mrs. C H Indira, Transplant Coordinator for their support in coordinating the training programme.