Tag: Health Awareness

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

rencygomes02

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 Holy Family Church, Alto Porvorim

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

An organ donation awareness talk was held at Holy Family Church, Alto Porvorim, Goa, on December 14, 2025, with Gabriel Pereira, an Organ Donation Ambassador from the MOHAN Foundation, addressing parishioners on the importance of organ and tissue donation.

During the session, Gabriel shared his personal connection to the cause, explaining how a family member receiving an organ transplant six years ago inspired him to actively promote organ donation awareness. He provided an overview of how organ allocation is managed by SOTTO–Goa and explained the roles of ROTTO and NOTTO in ensuring a transparent and ethical transplant system in India.

Using a PowerPoint presentation, Gabriel explained key aspects of organ and tissue donation, including which organs and tissues can be donated in cases of circulatory death and brain stem death. He clarified the medical definition of brain stem death, highlighted the differences between coma and brain stem death, and walked the audience through the process of pledging to become an organ donor.

Approximately 20 flyers containing frequently asked questions on organ donation were distributed to the attendees to help enhance their understanding. Gabriel also stressed the importance of informing family members about one’s decision to donate organs, as family consent plays a crucial role in the donation process.

The session saw a positive response, with eight parishioners taking the pledge to donate their organs. The talk concluded with Gabriel expressing his gratitude to Fr. Adolfo Alvares, Parish Priest, and Fr. Boris Dias, Assistant Parish Priest, for facilitating the session and supporting the cause of organ donation.

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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.

Health

Organ Donation Awareness at Blood Donation Camp in Dona Paula, Goa

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Health Desk

On November 21, 2025, Mr. Gabriel Pereira, Organ Donation Ambassador with the MOHAN Foundation, set up an organ donation information desk at the blood donation camp held at Bay 15 Resort, Dona Paula, Goa. The camp was organized by the Models Group in association with the Indian Red Cross Society, Goa, and the Goa Medical College Blood Bank, Bambolim, in fond memory of the late Mr. Peter Vaz, founder of the Models Group, to commemorate his birth anniversary.

The Models Group, which began as a modest real estate firm, has grown into one of Goa’s most respected names in development, tourism, and community initiatives. From landmark residential projects to iconic hospitality ventures and a celebrated football club, the group’s legacy is built on innovation, integrity, and impact. Under the guidance of Mrs. Natalina Vaz, along with Danira Vaz and Diogo Nathan Vaz, the group continues to honor the vision of Mr. Peter Vaz while driving real estate development in Goa to new heights.

At the camp, 77 attendees from various establishments of the Models Group donated blood. Mr. Gabriel Pereira distributed around 60 sets of frequently asked questions on organ donation and engaged with the donors, emphasizing the importance of organ donation. He expressed his appreciation to the blood donors for their generosity, noting that their contributions could save three to four lives. He highlighted that by pledging to donate organs, one person could save up to eight lives and enhance the lives of up to 50 people through tissue donation. Inspired by the awareness session, 10 individuals signed organ donation pledge cards.

Mr. Gabriel extended his gratitude to Mr. Rio, Program Officer at the Indian Red Cross Society, Goa, for inviting the MOHAN Foundation to participate in the camp and promote organ donation awareness.

Health

Organ Donation Awareness Session at Bicholim Mineral Block, Sesa Goa Vedanta Ltd.

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Health Desk

On November 19, 2025, Mr. Gabriel Pereira, Organ Donation Ambassador with the MOHAN Foundation, conducted an informative session on organ donation for the officers of Block 1, Bicholim Mineral Block at Sesa Goa Vedanta Ltd., Bicholim, Goa. The session was organized after Dr. Sunny Sarkar (MBBS, AFIH) learned about the MOHAN Foundation through the organ donation and transplant helpline at the Purple Fest 2025 and invited Mr. Pereira to raise awareness among the company’s workforce.

During the session, Gabriel introduced the MOHAN Foundation and highlighted its work over the past 28 years in promoting organ donation across India. With around 13 centres nationwide and headquarters in Chennai, the foundation has established an information centre in Goa to promote organ donation awareness throughout the state.

Gabriel explained that organ donation is only possible when a person is declared brain dead. Many people mistakenly believe that organs can still be donated if someone dies at home and the body is taken to a hospital promptly. He clarified that once death occurs at home, the organs cease to function, making organ donation impossible.

He further elaborated that in cases of brain death due to road traffic accidents or brain haemorrhages, medical teams initially make every effort to save the patient’s life. After treatments or surgeries, the patient is moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). If the patient does not respond, an authorised panel assesses and certifies brain stem death. Once brain death is confirmed, families are counselled about organ donation, and their consent is essential for the process to proceed.

Gabriel emphasized that only a small percentage of people have the opportunity to donate organs, but individuals can still contribute by donating tissues such as corneas, skin, or even the entire body after death at home.

The session concluded with Gabriel distributing a list of frequently asked questions on organ donation and sharing a presentation video. This included an animated short film by Shweta Gupta explaining brain death and a film on organ donation produced by ROTTO-SOTTO, Mumbai, to enhance understanding among employees.

Approximately 30 officers attended the session, and 20 individuals took donor cards, expressing their commitment to organ donation. Gabriel expressed gratitude to Dr. Sunny Sarkar and the officers of Block 1, Bicholim Mineral Block for giving the MOHAN Foundation the opportunity to conduct this impactful awareness session.