Report: World Health Day-2025 Theme: “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures”

April 08, 2025

The Department of Community Health Nursing, MCON, MAHE, Manipal observed World Health Day 2025 along with Undergraduate and Postgraduate students. As part of World Health Day weeklong awareness activities were organized on the theme: Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures from April 4 to 7, 2025.

On April 4, 2025, an awareness program on the theme "Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures." for Antenatal and Postnatal mothers and Children was conducted at Obstetrics and Gynecology OPD, Dr. T.M.A. Pai, Hospital, Udupi. The program aimed to promote awareness about the importance of Antenatal and Postnatal care, Breastfeeding, hygiene, diet, immunization, family planning, follow-up, and care for mother and child. The students demonstrated antenatal and postnatal exercises, emphasizing their importance for a healthy pregnancy and postpartum period. A detailed session on breast self-examination using flashcards and demonstrated the techniques and steps of breast self-examination with the help of a model. Pamphlets regarding breast self-examination were distributed to women. The program was conducted by Final year BSc. Nursing students and coordinated by Mr. Amol Powar. Assistant Lecturer, Dept of Community Health Nursing, MCON, MAHE, Manipal.

On April 5, 2025, an awareness program on the theme "Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures" for antenatal and postnatal mothers and children was conducted at Dr T M A Pai Rotary Hospital, Karkala, from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. Final year BSc Nursing students performed a skit on “Importance of antenatal check-up,” which highlighted the importance of regular antenatal visits, nutrition, immunization, etc., and also the importance of immunization for children. Students demonstrated the techniques of hand hygiene and the importance of personal hygiene. This event was coordinated by Dr Vinish V, Assistant Professor-Senior scale, Department of Community Health Nursing, MCON, MAHE, Manipal.

The poster-making competition on the theme – World Health Day 2025 was held on April 5, 2025. The program was inaugurated by Dr. Judith A. Noronha, Dean, and Dr. Tessy Treesa Jose, Associate Dean MCON, MAHE, Manipal. A total of 21 posters were received from the students and faculty of constituent institutions of MAHE Manipal. The students creatively depicted various aspects of antenatal, postnatal, and child care. The competition's winners were awarded prizes in recognition of their efforts to create awareness through art and all the participants were awarded with e-certificates.

Radio talk wasorganized on the topic “Care for women and children” and was broadcast on April 7, 2025, at 5 pm and on April 8, 2025, at 1.00 pm by Community Radio, Manipal, at 90.4 MHz. This program was conducted by MSc nursing students under the guidance of Dr. Malathi G. Nayak, Professor, department of Community Health Nursing.

A seminar was organized as a part of World Health Day 2025 on April 7, 2025, for the faculty and students of MCON & MSON. Dr. Shashidhar Y.N., Head of the Department of Community Health Nursing, welcomed the gathering and explained the significance of the World Health Day theme. The resource person, Dr Deekshitha, Consultant gynecologist and infertility specialist, Community Health Centre, Brahmavara, highlighted the various schemes of maternal and child health care in India and highlighted the importance of creating awareness and utilization of government services in our country. Dr. Leslie Edward S. Lewis, Professor & Head, Department of Paediatrics, KMC, Manipal, had given deliberations on Healthy practices to enhance child wellbeing and he emphasized the importance of nutrition, limiting screen time, Healthy sleep, Positive parenting, Safety and security, Immunization, Timely medical advice, good hygiene habits, playtime, respect & care for mother earth, love & care to animals and Importance of Reading, Learning, and relationships, etc. The seminar gave insights to the participants to initiate and provide quality maternal and child health care services to the community. There were a total of 10 faculty and 98 students who attended the program.

Dr. Ansuya, Associate Professor, Dept of Community Health Nursing, coordinated World Health Day 2025 weeklong activities under the guidance of Dr Shashidhara YN, Head of the Department of Community Health Nursing, MCON, Manipal. The program contributed to SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing, SDG 4: Quality Education & SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.