Manipal College of Nursing (MCON), Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, organized ‘MUSKAAN’ and ‘AAROGYA BHODHANA’ as part of Daan Utsav 2022 celebrations of the Volunteer Service Organization (VSO). The programs were organized by Ms. Jessica Rodrigues, VSO student coordinator, and Dr. Maria Pais, VSO faculty coordinator.

MUSKAAN: A donation drive to bring smiles among the socioeconomically deprived children of Bijapur Colony was organized on October 6, 2022, from 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm. The joy of giving unused clothes, pens, pencils, and grocery items was organized by 23 students along with the VSO faculty coordinator. It was a good interaction with the slum children and their parents through providing health education on personal hygiene and offering donations. A total of 45 people benefitted from the program.  

As part of the ‘AAROGYA BHODHANA’ program, the students of MCON Manipal along with the faculty coordinator taught inmates of the oncology ward of Kasturba Hospital Manipal, and their family members about care during the treatment of breast and uterine cancer. A total of 15 beneficiaries participated actively and clarified their doubts. It was an interactive and interesting session and inmates and family members expressed that it was highly useful.