Manipal College of Nursing, MAHE, Manipal, organized an ICMR-funded 'Capacity Building Workshop on Inclusive Healthcare' on March 5, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The workshop was held at the Department of Medical Education, Health Sciences Library Building, MAHE, Manipal. The 30 participants from various disciplines, including the Department of Nursing, Clinical Psychology, Community Medicine, and senior staff nurses from the hospital, attended. The primary objective of the workshop was to promote good health and well-being and reduce inequalities, which aligns with the objectives of SDG 3 and SDG 10.

The workshop began with a welcome address by Dr. Vikram Palimar, HOD & Professor, and a co-investigator of the project, KMC, Manipal, followed by a project overview by Dr. Mamatha S. Pai, Professor, and Principal Investigator of the project, MCON, Manipal. The guest of honour, Dr. Sameera Jahagirdar, addressed the participants about the barriers and challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals. The chief guest, Dr. Kanthilatha Pai, addressed the participants about inclusive healthcare and facilitating better care for the LGBTQIA+ community. Dr. Judith A Noronha, Dean & Professor, MCON, MAHE, highlighted the topic and the need for research. The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Latha T., Associate Professor and Co-Investigator of the project, AIIMS, Kalyani.

During the day, seven sessions were deliberated, starting with a keynote session by Dr. Sameera Jahagirdar on 'Towards Inclusive Healthcare: Navigating LGBTQIA+ Health in India.' This was followed by sessions on 'Introduction to Inclusive Healthcare,' 'Inclusive Communication,' 'Transgender People & Healthcare: The Treatment Management,' 'Mental Healthcare Services for LGBTQIA+,' 'Research & Evidence-based Practice, Interpersonal Communication,' and 'Ethical & Legal Issues in LGBTQIA+.' The speakers for these sessions were Dr. Mamatha S Pai, Dr. Deeksha Shetty, Dr. Bhavana B. Bhat, Dr. Nirmal Krishnan M, Mr. Renjulal Yesodharan, Dr. Latha T, and Dr. Vikram Palimar. The workshop concluded with the closing remarks by Dr. Nirmal Krishnan M, followed by the distribution of certificates to the participants.