Report of International Childhood Cancer Day 2016

As a part of ICCD various activities were organized which were: Fund Raising Program, Quiz competition, Cancer awareness program, Poster Competition, community awareness through FM Radio and Seminar on Childhood Cancer. Quiz competition on “Paediatric oncology” for the students of Manipal College of Nursing Manipal was conducted in which 16 students participated in four groups. Lynish, Jeffin, Lydia and Priya got first prize and second prize was bagged by Rahul, Keshar, Mamatha, Debolina.  

Cancer awareness program was conducted on 8th February 2016 for the students of Dr. TMA Pai Polytechnic College, Manipal in which session was taken by Dr. Sowmya Shashidhara, Senior Resident, Department of Paediatrics KMC Manipal on childhood cancer. 

Poster competition on 9th February 2016 was organized in which 22 posters were displayed and were judged by Dr. George Jacob and Dr. Jyothi Chakraborthy and two best posters were awarded. Mrs. Sheela Shetty and Mrs Binu Margaret, Asst. Professors, Department of Paediatric nursing won the first prize and Ms. Archana from MSW, Manipal Academy of Higher Education won the second prize. 

Community awareness through FM Radio was telecasted on 10th and 11th February 2016 in 90.4FM. This program mainly focused on awareness about cancer which was conveyed to the community via role play. The program was recorded in three languages- English, Kannada and Hindi. 

Seminar on Childhood Cancer Day theme “ACT NOW” was organized on 10th February 2016 at Shirdi Sai Baba Hall, Kasturba Hospital Manipal. The programme was inaugurated at 9am by the chief guest Dr. Shrikiran A Hebbar, Professor and HOD of the Department of Paediatrics. In his address he emphasized the need for updating knowledge to provide better care to children. Dr. Anice George, Dean, Manipal College of Nursing also gave a message stating the importance of nursing care towards children with cancer. The sessions for the day focused on the topic of cancer that were: “Pediatric Oncologic conditions” by Dr. Shrikiran A Hebbar, Professor and HOD of the Department of Pediatrics, KMC, Manipal. 

A session on “Oncologic Emergencies” was taken by Dr. Krishna Sharan, Assistant Professor, Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, “Management of Patients with Cancer” by Dr. Prahlad H. Yathiraj, Asst. Professor, Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, “Role of Nurse Navigator in Cancer Care” by Mrs. Sheijila CH, PhD Scholar, Manipal College of Nursing Manipal and “Pain and Palliative Care” by Dr. Basavaraj S. Herekar, Asst. Professor, Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care.  

A total of 150 students and faculty attended the seminar from in and around Udupi. A delegate Ms. Usha S, faculty from Vidyaratna College of Nursing spoke out her views on the seminar. A closing remark was delivered by Dr. Mamatha S. Pai, HOD, Department of Child Health Nursing. The seminar got concluded with the words of gratitude by Ms. Pratiti Haldar. The program was organized by MSc. (N) second year students of Child Health Nursing Department namely: Ms. Merile Mary Thomas, Ms. Edlin Mathias, Ms. Ameeka Shereen Lobo, Ms. Edle Flavia Fernandes, Ms. Akshatha Nayak and Ms. Pratiti Haldar under the guidance of Dr. Mamatha S. Pai, HOD, and Ms. Anjalin D’ Souza, Assistant Professor, Child Health Nursing department of Manipal College of Nursing Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education.