Tag: Community Outreach

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Organ Donation Information Desk Set Up at Lourdes Convent High School; Blood Donation Camp Held in Saligao

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

Saligao, January 17, 2026: An organ donation information desk was set up at a blood donation camp organised by Lourdes Convent High School, Saligao, in collaboration with Loving Hearts Goa and the North Goa District Hospital (Asilo) blood bank.



The initiative was led by Mr Gabriel Pereira, an Organ Donation Ambassador with the MOHAN Foundation. The blood donation camp was sponsored by Peppy’s Goan Kitchen Caterers, Porvorim, and was held from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.

The camp was formally inaugurated by the Headmistress of Lourdes Convent High School, Sr. Antonette Pereira, who lit the traditional lamp and led a welcome song, inviting parents to participate in the programme.

Loving Hearts Goa is a voluntary group founded by Mr Ranjit Rodrigues and comprises regular blood donors who organise blood donation camps across Goa. Mr Mark D’Souza serves as the President of the group, Mr Gabriel Pereira as Secretary, and Mrs Sanyukta Gawde as Treasurer. At every camp organised by the group, an organ donation information desk is set up to raise awareness on the importance of organ donation.

During the camp, Mr Pereira distributed approximately 36 informational flyers to donors, addressed frequently asked questions related to organ donation, and highlighted the importance of pledging to donate organs. The flyers also included a QR code enabling individuals to easily pledge as organ donors. As a result of this outreach, four individuals pledged to become organ donors.

At the conclusion of the event, Mr Pereira expressed his gratitude to Sr. Antonette Pereira, Mr Ranjit Rodrigues and Mr Mark D’Souza for their continued support of organ donation awareness initiatives and for their collaboration with the MOHAN Foundation.

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Organ Donation Awareness Talk Held at St. Francis Xavier Church, Pirna, Colvale

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

An organ donation awareness talk was conducted at St. Francis Xavier Church in Pirna, Colvale, Goa, on December 14, 2025, with the aim of educating parishioners about the importance of organ and tissue donation. The session was led by Mr. Gabriel Pereira, an Organ Donation Ambassador from the MOHAN Foundation, who has been actively working to spread awareness across parishes in the region.

Mr. Pereira shared that this initiative followed an earlier awareness session conducted for priests of the Mapusa Deanery under the Archdiocese of Goa. Encouraged by the response, the MOHAN Foundation was invited to conduct similar talks across 12 parishes. So far, sessions have been successfully completed in five parishes, with seven more planned in the coming months.

Introducing himself to the gathering, Mr. Pereira spoke about his role as an Organ Donation Ambassador and his mission to motivate individuals and families to support organ donation. He encouraged parishioners to not only consider pledging themselves but also to help spread awareness within their communities.

During the session, he explained that organ donation is possible only in cases of brain death, while individuals who pass away at home can still contribute through tissue donation. He elaborated on various tissue donation options, including skin, corneas and whole body donation, addressing common doubts and misconceptions.

Mr. Pereira also highlighted the role of the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) in Goa and shared information on patients currently awaiting organ transplants in the state. He noted that kidney and corneal transplants are presently the only transplant procedures carried out in Goa.

The session concluded with the distribution of informational flyers containing frequently asked questions to all 50 attendees. Mr. Pereira expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Fr. Alvito Cardzo, OFM Cap, Parish Priest of St. Francis Xavier Church, for providing the opportunity to address the parish community on this vital and life-saving subject.

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Rotary Club of Miramar Hosts Organ Donation Awareness Talk with MOHAN Foundation

Tanisha Cardozo

On September 26, 2025, the Rotary Club of Miramar in Panjim, Goa, hosted a compelling organ donation awareness talk as part of its regular club meeting. The session featured Mr. Gabriel Pereira, Organ Donation Ambassador with the MOHAN Foundation, and was coordinated by RTN Dr. Sandhya.

In a first for many attendees, the session also welcomed transplant recipients — Mr. Umesh Dhavalikar (liver), Mr. Mark Rocha, and Mr. Zeon Romano (both kidney) — who shared personal stories that humanized the conversation around organ donation. Their moving testimonies resonated deeply with the audience and offered firsthand insight into the challenges and triumphs of transplantation.

Mr. Pereira opened the session with a brief introduction to the MOHAN Foundation’s work both in Goa and nationally. He highlighted that around 80 individuals are currently on the waitlist for kidney transplants in the state, where only kidney and corneal tissue transplants are currently performed.

Using a detailed PowerPoint presentation, Mr. Pereira walked attendees through the core principles of organ donation — such as the definition of brain death, the legal necessity of family consent, and the possibility of donating tissues or the whole body in cases of circulatory death.

He also explained the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994, shared information about licensed transplant hospitals in Goa, and outlined the simple procedure for acquiring an organ donor card.

The testimonies added a powerful emotional layer to the session. Mr. Dhavalikar, Mr. Rocha, and Mr. Romano spoke about the uncertainty and hope that defined their transplant journeys, reminding everyone present that every donor saves not one, but several lives.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Pereira thanked Mr. Sandesh Gadvi, President of the Rotary Club of Miramar, and all Rotarians for their support and warm hospitality. He expressed gratitude to the transplant recipients for their courage in sharing their stories, and reiterated MOHAN Foundation’s commitment to promoting awareness and increasing organ donor registrations across the country.

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Legal Aid Society Hosts Child Development & Abuse Awareness Program in Moira

Tanisha Cardozo

The Legal Aid Society of V. M. Salgaocar College of Law, through its Moira Legal Aid Cell, conducted a powerful awareness program in Moira Village focusing on the law relating to child development and the effects of abuse on children. Held with the purpose of legal empowerment and community education, the event brought together students, local officials, and legal professionals to discuss the importance of child rights and the community’s responsibility in preventing abuse.

The program was graced by several key dignitaries, including Shri Sagar Naik, Sarpanch of Moira Panchayat, and Ms. Shreya Mandrekar, Secretary of the Village Child Committee, who both emphasized the village’s commitment to child welfare. The chief resource person for the session was Dr. Sayonora Telles-Laad, former District & Sessions Judge and President of the Children’s Court, whose vast experience added depth and real-world perspective to the dialogue on child protection laws. Her insights helped participants understand the long-term psychological and legal implications of child abuse, and the frameworks in place to prevent and respond to such cases.

Assistant Professor Disha Sardesai, Faculty In-charge of the Moira Legal Aid Cell, also played a key role in organizing and guiding the session. Her efforts, along with the active participation of the students, reflected the college’s ongoing mission to use legal education as a tool for social transformation.

The session successfully fostered awareness among students and the local community on safeguarding children’s rights and dignity. It highlighted that protecting children is not solely a legal obligation, but a collective community responsibility. The program not only served as an educational platform but also as a call to action for ongoing vigilance and advocacy in matters relating to child welfare.

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Shree Kamaxidevi College to state a peripheraal OPD at RedCross Office

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The Shree Kamaxidevi Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Shiroda Goa will establish a peripheraal clinic at a Red Cross office every Monday from April 28 onwards to provide healthcare services in collaboration with the Red Cross organization. The medicines and treatment shall be free of cost.

This was disclosed at a Joint Press Conference by Chairman of Indian Red Cross Society Shri Gaurish Dhond and Principal of Shree Kamaxidevi Homeopathic Medical College and Hospitals, Prof.(Dr.) Roshani R. Shirwaikar. Assistant professor Dr Niranjan Bapat and General Secretary , IRCS Goa Shri John Aguiar was slso present.

Shri Dhond said that the Red Cross has a strong history of providing first aid training and humanitarian assistance, and a clinic could build upon that by offering more comprehensive medical care. Such a clinic could enhance the Red Cross’s reputation and allow the medical college to improve community outreach. 

Dr Shirwaikar said that the Medical College and Hospital is the first and the only Homoeopathic institute in the State of Goa offering quality education, affiliated to the privileges of Goa University and is recognized by Government of Goa. It is also recognized by the National Commission for Homoeopathy, New Delhi & Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dept. of AYUSH, Government of India.

She said peripheral OPDs have been functioning actively in the regions of Valpoi and Boring, offering accessible healthcare to rural communities, Additionally, plans are underway to establish a new OOD at Goa University, further expanding the college’s outreach and clinical training opportunities.