To disseminate information on newborn health, an awareness program on the Care of Newborns was conducted to the parents and caregivers of newborns/preterm babies on November 15, 2024, and November 21, 2024, by Dr Binu Margaret, Assistant Professor- Selection Grade, Department of Child Health Nursing, MCON, Manipal, Ms Rashal Martis, PhD Scholar, and Ms Rechangben Imchen and Ms Aminath Sima, MSc Nursing Students, Department of Child Health Nursing, MCON, Manipal. The session highlighted the importance of thermoregulation, breastfeeding, kangaroo mother care, prevention of infection, hygienic practices, care of the baby at home and developmental supportive care at home. A total of 45 parents of premature babies and their caregivers benefitted from the program and clarified their concerns.

A workshop on Essential Newborn Care was conducted for BSc Nursing students on November 18, 2024, between 1.30 and 5.00 pm with four workstations. The workshop was designed to give practical exposure and focused on four key areas: immediate newborn care, neonatal resuscitation, breastfeeding, and kangaroo mother care. Dr. Binu Margaret gave an overview of the workshop and the newborn week celebration. Later, the participants were divided into four groups, and different sessions with demonstrations were deliberated. The sessions included: “Immediate Newborn Care” by Ms. Rechangben Imchen, II MSc Nursing student, Department of Child Health Nursing, MCON, Manipal, “Neonatal Resuscitation” by Ms. Aminath Sima, II MSc Nursing student, Department of Child Health Nursing, MCON, Manipal, “Breastfeeding” by Dr. Binu Margaret and “Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC)” by Mrs Sheela Shetty, Assistant Professor- Senior Scale, Department of Child Health Nursing, MCON, Manipal. The interactive stations allowed students to learn essential skills for caring for newborns, including life-saving techniques and promoting bonding through breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact, aligned with this year’s Newborn Week theme: "Safety, quality, and nurturing care: Birthright of every newborn. The event gave a learning opportunity to engage students with practical aspects to ensure that every newborn receives the care they deserve. A total of 66 students benefitted from the workshop. The participants well appreciated the workshop.

To sensitize the nurses on newborn health, a Training session on “Normal Neonatal Care Nursing Workshop” was conducted for the staff nurses of Dr TMA Pai Rotary Hospital, Karkala on November 18, 2024, from 2.30 to 4.30 pm by Dr. Sheila Samanta Mathai, Professor & HOD, Dr. Subhodh Shetty, Associate Professor and Dr. Jayashree Purkayastha, Professor, Department of Neonatology, KMC, Manipal. The session highlighted the different aspects of normal newborn care practices. A total of 31 nurses were trained. The session was well appreciated by the nurses.

Community awareness for the public through a Youtube video interview (Vaidyavaani) on “Care of preterm newborn” on 14th November 2024 and a Radio Talk on World Prematurity Day on Radio Manipal 90.4 FM on November 20 and 21, 2024, was done by Dr. Subhodh Shetty, Associate Professor, Department of Neonatology, KMC, Manipal. Also, Instagram video messages on Preterm care, human milk bank, and levels of NICU were delivered by Dr Sheila Samanta Mathai, Professor & HOD, Department of Neonatology, KMC, Manipal, on November 15, 2024.

A Newspaper Article on World Prematurity Day was written by Dr Rajendra Prasad, Assistant Professor, Dr Jayashree Purkayastha, Professor, Dr Sheila Samanta Mathai, Professor & HOD, Department of Neonatology, KMC, Manipal. It was published in Arogyavani on November 17, 2024.

A workshop on Lactation Management was conducted for staff nurses on November 19, 2024, between 2.00 and 5.00 pm with four workstations. Dr. Shruthi K Bhardwaj gave an overview of the workshop. Dr. Sheila Samanta Mathai addressed the gathering and highlighted the need to conduct the workshop and the benefits for participants and newborns. Later, the participants were divided into four groups, and four stations with demonstrations were deliberated. Dr. Sheila Samanta Mathai, Dr. Leslie Edward Lewis, Dr Rajendra Prasad, and Dr. Shruthi K Bhardwaj, faculty from the Department of Neonatology and Pediatrics, were the resource persons. The sessions gave an overview of Breastfeeding, its advantages, production and intake of breastmilk, latching, technique of breastfeeding, expression and storage of breastmilk, breastfeeding problems and its management, Human Milk Bank, and demonstrated the different breastfeeding positions, technique of breastfeeding, and expression of breastmilk. The session also highlighted Lactation Counseling for mothers with case scenarios and role plays. A total of 62 nurses from KH Manipal, BR Shetty Hospital Udupi, TMA Pai Udupi, and Lady Goschen Hospital, Mangalore, benefitted from the workshop. The participants well appreciated the workshop.

A formal program on World Prematurity Day and Newborn Week Celebrations was conducted on November 20, 2024, between 3.00 and 4.30 pm.

Department of Neonatology, Kasturba Medical College and Hospital (KMC), Manipal and Department of Child Health Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal (MCON) and National Neonatology Forum, Karnataka Chapter observed World Prematurity Day on November 20, 2024, with various activities. This year’s World Prematurity Day theme is “Access to Quality Care Everywhere”. The aim was to create awareness about the care of preterm babies and celebrate the lives of premature babies.

V Adm. (Retd)Dr Sheila S Mathai, Head, Department of Neonatology, KMC, Manipal, explained the significance of celebrating World Prematurity Day and welcomed the gathering. Dr. Shruthi Kumar Bharadwaj, Assistant Professor, Department of Neonatology, KMC, Manipal, gave an overview of activities conducted during the newborn week celebration and World Prematurity Day.

Dr. Leslie E Lewis, HoD, Department of Paediatrics, KMC, Manipal, in his address, appreciated the efforts of physicians, administrators, nurses, and well-wishers at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, for their dedication and contribution to upgrading the NICU to Level 3 (b) unit, marking a significant achievement. Dr Leslie congratulated Dr. Sheila S. Mathai for her immense contribution to starting the Manipal Matri-Amrit Milk Bank on June 11, 2024. He also appreciated the NICU nurses' hard work and dedication toward caring for premature babies in the NICU. He also appreciated participating in and winning the state-level quiz competition and being selected for the national-level quiz competition.

The Guest of Honour, Dr Avinash Shetty, Medical Superintendent of Kasturba Hospital Manipal, in his address, highlighted the importance of celebrating World Prematurity Day, which began on November 17, 2008, aiming to raise awareness of the challenges and improvements for preterm babies. He discussed the high infant and maternal mortality rates in the 1960s and how Dr. Pai initiated a network of seven RMCW homes from Malpe to Kadekar village to reduce mortality with the help of a USA grant and local community involvement. These centers have greatly improved and continue to provide excellent care. He concluded by emphasizing the development of comprehensive pediatric care services to be implemented by 2025 at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, marking another significant achievement. He also shared his personal story of being a preterm baby weighing 1.3 kg, which was a motivation to the parents attending the program.

Dr Judith A Noronha, Dean, MCON, Manipal, the Guest of Honour of the event in her address stressed that healthcare professionals should be equipped to provide care to neonates even in low-resource settings through creative improvisation of health facilities. Care should never be neglected to the premiees. She shared her experience of being a preterm baby, weighing 1.1 kg, and how she survived through proper warmth, which is crucial for the survival of premature babies.

In his address, the Chief Guest of the program, Dr Padmaraj Hegde, Dean, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, advised the healthcare professionals to join hands and care for the preterm babies for their survival and better outcomes.

Panel Discussion on Care of Extremely Low Birth Weight babies was moderated by V Adm (Retd)Dr Sheila S Mathai. The panelists included Dr. Shruthi Kumar Bharadwaj, Dr. Leslie E Lewis, Dr. Subhodh Shetty, Dr Rajendra Prasad, faculty of the Department of Neonatology, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal. The panel discussion highlighted the importance of care for extremely low birth weight preterm babies and their management.

A skit on normal Newborn Care Practices, Myths and Messages, was done by the postgraduates and nurses in the NICU, which was well appreciated by the participants.

Dr Baby S Nayak, Professor and Head, Department of Child Health Nursing, MCON, proposed the vote the thanks. Dr. Shruthi Kumar Bharadwaj hosted the whole program. A total of 100 healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses, faculty members, postgraduate students and the parents and caregivers of NICU graduates attended the program.

The one-week event of the Newborn Week celebration and World Prematurity Day Celebration was coordinated by Dr Binu Margaret and Mrs Sheela Shetty from the Department of Child Health Nursing, MCON, Manipal and V Adm. (Retd) Dr Sheila S Mathai, Dr. Subhodh Shetty, and Dr Shruthi Kumar Bharadwaj, from Department of Neonatology, KH, Manipal.