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New Delhi/NCR, April 6, 2018:
FORT (Fortis Organ Retrieval and Transplant) in association with MOHAN Foundation is organizing the 5th Annual FORT-MOHAN Foundation Training Programme on Transplant Coordination at the Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI), Gurugram. The 5-day structured annual event is being conducted under the aegis of National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) with the objective of strengthening the cadre of health care professionals dealing with organ donation so that the number of deceased organ donations increase in the coming years. This year, exhibits titled, ‘Karma – Life before Ashes’, featuring human organ installations made from a mix of real human ashes and mud by the MOHAN Foundation are being displayed at FMRI. The underlying message of these sculpted organs is simple and hard hitting – ‘What have become ashes could have been another human’s heart or kidney. If only the organs were donated.’
The five-day training programme on transplant coordination saw participation of 43 delegates from across the nation. These included transplant coordinators, ICU nurses, medical social workers, para-medical staff and doctors. Expert faculty from the country took sessions on brain stem death testing, counseling of families for organ and tissue donation, legal aspects, role of police in medico-legal donations and green corridors and the important role of media.At the end of the workshop, the participants were presented with certificates issued jointly by NOTTO (National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization), MOHAN Foundation and Fortis Healthcare.
Bhavdeep Singh, CEO, Fortis Healthcare said, “We consider organ donation and transplantation a very important aspect of our mission of ‘saving lives and enriching lives’. Every year NOTTO, MOHAN Foundation and Fortis Healthcare come together to enable different stakeholders involved in the complex process of deceased organ donation. Our ‘More To Give’ campaign has reached out to millions in the country. The increasing awareness has already led to 74 individuals donating organs in our hospitals, thus helping in transplantation of 206 life-saving organs. We stand humbled by the humane and selfless gesture of these families.
Dr. Vimal Bhandari, Director NOTTO, said, ‘Training of healthcare professionals will be instrumental in increasing the number of organ donations in the country. Organ donation is often jeopardized because of the myths and superstitions that surround it. As a result of which tact and caution need to be observed when convincing the family of the deceased for organ donation, especially since they are grieving and will not be receptive to the concept of ‘letting go’. Such a program plays a pivotal role in teaching us how to convince the bereaved families while at the same time showcasing empathy and understanding in a sensitive and subtle manner.”
Dr Avnish Seth, Director Fortis Organ Retrieval & Transplant (FORT) said, “We have to stop blaming the people of India for the low rate of organ donation as they are altruistic by nature. Whenever anyone in the country has tried to promote organ donation, whether in public or private sector, they have succeeded. What you need is a will to do so, setting up of processes and most importantly highly trained and motivated staff. The problem is that only 11 states and UTs have taken up the noble cause and there is an acute shortage of quality health care and ventilators in the country, especially in the Government hospitals. Organ donation should be a routine part of end-of-life care and not made out to be the spectacular event it seems”
Pallavi Kumar, Head of MOHAN Foundation, NCR said, “The shortage of organs is a glaring reality that Indians have to face. Our organ donation rate is 0.8 per million population. The number of people who need organs is far more than the donations. 90% of people in the waiting list die without getting an organ. While efforts have been made to stream line the process of organ donation, India still has a long way to go.”
