MOHAN Foundation held its tenth Patient Support Group (PSG) meeting at Sundaram Medical Foundation Hospital, Chennai, on Sunday, 10^th October 2006. The PSG provides a platform for organ failure patients and their families to interact with a panel of experts comprising physicians, surgeons, dietitians and counsellors. It also encourages them to discuss issues amongst themselves, issues that they can all empathize with, and to lobby for change through patient advocacy.

The programme begun with a prayer song by a volunteer of MOHAN Foundation, Mrs. Rajalakshmi Ravi. This was followed by a brief report on the activities of the Foundation by Mrs. Malathi Venkatesan also heads the PSG and she spoke about the groups resolve to focus on rehabilitation of transplanted patients so that they can lead productive lives.

The patient education talks for the day include a very informative one by Dr. V. Chandrashekar from the Department of Nephrology, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, on “Hyper tension and Kidney disease.” Mrs. Rajeshwari Ramachandran from the Department of Dietetics, Sundaram Medical Foundation gave an effective presentation on the diet to be followed by patients with renal failure. MOHAN Foundation recognizes the need for metal well-being of Patients and their families, so the concluding talk was on “Stress management” by Yogacharya Arun Kumar. The Yogacharya spoke about achieving happiness through yoga and making it a way of life.

With rehabilitation being the theme of this PSG meeting, it was only apt that MOHAN Foundation honour Mr. Ravi, a renal transplant patient, who won 5 medals (4 golds, 1 silver) at the IX All India & SAARC Transplant Games held in Ludhiana, Punjab, in September 2006. Mr. Ravi spoke about how it was possible for transplant patients, through grit and determination, to lead a normal life. Mr. Rajagopal, a live kidney donor, (the recipient was his brother M. S. Chakravarthy) spoke about his experiences. The recipient, Mr. Chakravarthy, has survived now for 23 years and, in fact, has given some useful tips for renal transplant patients in this issue of the Indian Transplant Newsletter.

With over hundred patients and families attending the 10^th PSG meeting, this was a clear indication that such patient support groups are the need of the hour.