The Department of Community Medicine at Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Mangaluru, in partnership with NJ Wealth under its Industry-Academia Collaboration, commemorated World Health Day 2025 with the theme “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Future.”
Dr. Prasanna Mithra P, Professor and Head of Community Medicine, served as the organising chairperson, with Dr. Rajath Rao, Assistant Professor, as the organising secretary.
The event focused on promoting awareness and action to improve maternal and newborn health, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3.1 and 3.2.
The programme began with opening remarks by Dean Dr. B Unnikrishnan, who stressed the foundational role of maternal and child health in building a robust society. Dr. Rajath Rao then outlined the day’s objective, highlighting global progress and gaps in maternal and newborn care.
The highlight was a panel discussion featuring experts like Dr. Shradha Shetty (OBG), Dr. Nutan Kamat (Paediatrics), Dr. Rameela Shekhar (Mental Health), Shailesh Mathukia (NJ Wealth), and Dr. Mithra himself. Topics included barriers in access, socio-cultural challenges, mental health, and health system reforms.
Evidence-based interventions, community health strategies, and the role of private sector partnerships were emphasized as key solutions.
The event concluded with a guest lecture by Mr. Mathukia, who spoke on “A Strong Foundation for a Sustainable Future”, reinforcing the theme’s relevance to broader development goals.
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