KMC Oration explores Past, Present, Future of Public Health

Mangaluru: Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College Mangalore organised the Third Dr B S Sajjan Endowment Oration with the theme, “Public health: Then, now, and the future” at the Medical Education Unit AV Hall, Light House Hill Road on March 15, 2023. Dr R S Phaneendra Rao, Former Professor of Community Medicine & Dean of Kasturba Medical College, Manipal delivered the oration. This program was attended by 95 people both offline and online mode.

The oration started with an inaugural function. The chief guest of the function was Dr Dilip G Naik, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Mangalore Campus. The dignitaries present on the dais were Dr Dilip G Naik, Dr B Unnikrishnan, Dean, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Dr R S Phaneendra Rao, Dr Rekha T, Prof & Head, Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore (the organising chairperson) and Dr Prasanna Mithra P, Additional Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore (organising secretary) Dr B Unnikrishnan formally welcomed the gathering. He highlighted the contribution of Dr B S Sajjan to the field of Community Medicine at the local and state level. He also mentioned Department of Community Medicine has been organising the Endowment oration for three years now.

Dr Rekha T presented the overview, activities, and achievements of the Department over the last year. Dr Dilip G Naik, in his address, welcomed the gesture of endowment oration in memory of Dr B S Sajjan. He expressed his happiness in participating in the programme. He lauded the activities of the Department of Community Medicine. The inaugural function was followed by the felicitation of Dr R S Phaneendra Rao. He delivered the Third Dr B S Sajjan endowment oration on the topic “Public health: Then, now and the future”. He brought the legacy of public health interventions and the role of public health scientists into the current healthcare context. This was followed by the challenges and options before the policymakers and public health scientists.

Further, Dr Prasanna Mithra proposed the vote of thanks. This oration was followed by two scientific sessions.

The first session was by Dr Anantesh G Barker, Surveillance Medical Officer, National Polio Surveillance Project, World Health Organization, who talked about the roadmap to Measles and Rubella elimination in the country by the end of the year, 2023. He insisted on the need for surveillance of all persons with fever and rashes, as well as complete immunization and support from all sectors in achieving the goal of elimination.

Also, Surgeon Vice Admiral (Dr) Sheila Samanta Mathai, Professor and Head, Department of Neonatology, KMC, Manipal gave an enriching talk on ‘Foetal malnutrition and Developmental Origins of Health and Disease’, wherein she focused on the importance of mother’s health on the growth of the foetus and eventually, the health of the newborn. She mentioned the dangers of transgenerational inheritance of health and disease, wherein one’s health depends not only on the current exposures but also on the health of the ancestors. India is the largest producer of low-birth-weight babies in the world. She asserted the role of health education to the public on the betterment of both quantity and quality of diet, in preventing macro- and micro-nutrient deficiency among mothers, and thus producing healthy babies.

Dr Anantesh G Barker, Surveillance Medical Officer, National Polio Surveillance Project, World Health Organization talked about the roadmap to Measles and Rubella elimination in the country by the end of the year, 2023. He insisted on the need for surveillance of all persons with fever and rashes, as well as complete immunization and support from all sectors in achieving the goal of elimination. As part of the CME, Surgeon Vice Admiral (Dr) Sheila Samanta Mathai, Professor and Head, Department of Neonatology, KMC, Manipal gave an enriching talk on ‘Foetal malnutrition and Developmental Origins of Health and Disease’, wherein she focused on the importance of mother’s health on the growth of the foetus and eventually, the health of the newborn. She mentioned the dangers of transgenerational inheritance of health and disease, wherein one’s health depends not only on the current exposures but also on the health of the ancestors. India is the largest producer of low-birth-weight babies in the world. She asserted the role of health education to the public on the betterment of both quantity and quality of diet, in preventing macro- and micro-nutrient deficiency among mothers, and thus producing healthy babies.