As part of Daan Utsav 2021 celebrations of Volunteer Service Organisation (VSO) of Manipal Academy of Higher Education Manipal, Manipal College of Nursing (MCON), Manipal, organized ‘Shishu Palana’ and ‘Sneha Daan’. The programs were organised by Ms Meghna Pandit, VSO student coordinator and Dr Latha T, VSO Faculty coordinator under the guidance of Dean, Dr Judith A Noronha and Associate Dean, Dr Tessy Treesa Jose.

Sishu Palana: care of newborn babies, an empowerment session for postnatal mothers was conducted on 6th October 2021. Dr Yashoda Sathish, Assistant Professor – Senior Scale, Department of Child Health Nursing, MCON Manipal taught postnatal mothers and their family members about safe and effective breastfeeding, and the care of newborns at home. There were 22 postnatal mothers who participated actively and clarified their doubts. It was an interactive and interesting session and mothers expressed that it was highly useful. Adequate measures were taken to maintain the COVID-19 protocols, such as all the participants and organizers mandatorily requiring masks, social distancing and provision of hand sanitisers for all the participants.

As part of Sneha Daan, a donation drive to socio-economically deprived children was organized. The team visited Krishanugraha - Children Fit Institute and Adoption Centre, Santhekatte, Udupi, on 7th October 2021. The voluntary donations were collected from interested donors and the items received were boiled rice, baby feed formula, milk and milk flavour enhancers, diapers, antiseptic solutions, creams, detergents, toothpaste and fruits. A total of 47 children were present in the centre. The collected items were handed over to the manager of Krishnanugraha. The students of MCON Manipal participated enthusiastically. The Management of the adoption institute thanked and appreciated the contribution.