Thumbay, Bantwal: Father Muller Nursing College Thumbay (FMNCT), under Father Muller Charitable Institutions, hosted PEDIACON 2K25, a regional conference centred on paediatric emergency care, on 24 May 2025. Held at the Florence Nightingale Hall, the event operated under the theme “Swift Hands – Safeguarding Little Lives” and drew 211 participants from various nursing colleges and hospitals across the Mangaluru region.

Inauguration and dignitaries

The conference began at 9:30 am with a formal inaugural ceremony. Dr Lulu Sherif Mahmood, Professor of Anaesthesiology and Head of Healthcare Simulation Education at FMSSC, was the Chief Guest, delivering a keynote that stressed the importance of early and skilled interventions in neonatal care. She remarked, “Our hands can’t do what our mind doesn’t know,” emphasising the need for strong theoretical and practical grounding.

The ceremony was presided over by Rev Fr Richard Aloysius Coelho, Director of Father Muller Charitable Institutions. Other dignitaries included:

  • Rev Fr Faustine Lucas Lobo, Designate Director, FMCI

  • Rev Fr Sylvester Vincent Lobo, Administrator, FM Hospital Thumbay

  • Dr Kiran Shetty, Medical Superintendent, FMHT

  • Dr Sr Judy SIC, Principal, FMNCT

  • Mrs Janet Sequeira, Vice Principal and Organising Chairperson

  • Mrs Joyce Fernandes, Organising Secretary

    • Together, they inaugurated the event by lighting the ceremonial lamp and unveiling the conference theme.

    A call to love and care for little lives

    In his presidential address, Fr Richard Aloysius Coelho encouraged participants to approach paediatric care with empathy, urgency, and dedication. He highlighted the moral and professional responsibility of healthcare workers to manage critical cases in children with competence and compassion.

    The inaugural ceremony concluded at 10:15 am with a vote of thanks by Mrs Janet Sequeira, the organising chairperson. The session was hosted by Dr Edveena Philip Monis, Associate Professor, and Ms Princita Dsouza, a student representative.

    Conference attendance and participation

    The academic gathering witnessed the active participation of 211 attendees, including faculty, staff nurses, and students from institutions across the coastal Karnataka region. The conference served as a platform for skill enhancement, peer learning, and knowledge sharing in paediatric emergency nursing, aligning with FMNCT’s mission to foster clinical excellence.