On January 18, 2024, MOHAN Foundation conducted an awareness session on organ donation at the Conference Hall, Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), Porompat, for the nursing students of Kangleipak Medical and Nursing Institute, Khurai, Manipur. Ms. Laishram Monica Devi, Programme Officer, and Ms. Thoidingjam Udayini Khuman, Transplant Coordinator of MOHAN Foundation, conducted the programme.

 

As a continuation of the awareness campaign that was launched on January 4, 2024, the fourth session was conducted at JNIMS. Ms. Udayini, along with the principal from the participating institution, coordinated the session. The nursing students and the faculties accompanying them were the participants of the session.

 

Ms. Monica started the session by evaluating the students' prior knowledge of organ donation and transplantation. Then, she started her presentation by introducing the MOHAN Foundation, its objectives, and its vision. Throughout the session, she kept the audience engaged by explaining the reality of deceased organ donation in the region.

 

The following points were discussed with the help of a PowerPoint presentation:

• Organ donation and its need

• Types of donations

• Status of the organ donation and transplant waiting list in India

• A law enacted for transplantation

• Circulatory death vs. brain death

• 1st and 2nd deceased donations done at Manipur

• Facts and myths about organ donation

• The importance of the donor card

• The importance of family consent in the process of organ donation

• How to pledge or sign up for organ donation

• Professional courses offered by MF

 

Later, the students were informed about the development of the kidney transplant programme at the government-run hospital, Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, which made them aware of the fact that things are looking up in the state of Manipur. They were also sensitised to the ever-growing need for organ transplants due to the rise of end-stage organ diseases.

 

After that, the team had a brief interaction with the participants. Multiple queries were posed by the participants. To name a new:

 

• Is body donation possible if the family opts for organ donation but the organs are deteriorated at the time of brain death certification?

• Process of pledging outside the state of Manipur.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on organ donation were also distributed to the participants for a better understanding of the topic.

 

At the end of the session, some of the participants came up for pledging, and the rest wanted to discuss it with their family and friends.

 

Close to 75 participants attended the session, and 16 of them pledged to donate organs