On March 10, 2024, Mr. Gabriel Pereira, Organ Donation Ambassador from MOHAN Foundation, was invited to give a talk on organ donation for the St. Joseph Conference of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP) at Valerian Cardinal Gracias Parish Centre, Navelim, Goa.

 

Mr. Gabriel thanked the coordinator Mr. Oscar Vegas and the SSVP members for the invitation.

The program was organised by St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP) Margao South Goa Area, it was recollection of faith during the Lenten season, where members from Navelim Conferences attended the program.

 

Mr. Gabriel asked everyone what MOHAN stood for, and after a while, he explained that it is an acronym for Multi Organ Harvesting Aid Network. He spoke about the mission of the NGO, how long it's been in service to the people, and its objectives.

 

The following topics were discussed.

1. The concept of organ donation

2. Types of death - cardiac death and brain death, which organ or tissues are donated in cardiac death or brain death.

3. Which are the approved transplant hospitals in Goa and which organs do they transplant.

4. Demand and supply of organs.

5. Whole body donation

6. Organ failure is a silent tsunami, what precautious one can take to avoid such a tsunami in one’s life.

 

He told the members, who are with diabetes or hypertension, they should do a routine blood and urine test for creatine level, protein in urine, etc.

 

He also mentioned that there were 45 patients on the waiting list for kidney transplants, as only kidney and corneal transplants are performed in Goa at the present time.

 

At the end Gabriel showed the video on brain stem death and distributed around 60 frequently asked question flyers.