Various activities were planned to be conducted from 8 March to 10 March 2017.

Poster competition:
The poster competition was held for faculty members and students of constituent institutions of Manipal Academy of Higher Education on 8 March 2017 from 9 am to 12 pm in the ground floor of Keshav Bhandarkar Women & Child Health Block, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal on the theme of ‘Women’s Health Issues’. The health issues of women like Infertility, Breast cancer, Cervical cancer, Osteoporosis, Depression and Heart Disease were chosen as important health issues to be focused on. About 35 posters on the theme from faculty members and students from different constituent institutes of Manipal Academy of Higher Education were displayed, which were informative.

Pledge for parity
Everyone - men and women - can pledge to take a concrete step to help achieve gender parity. Therefore, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, the organizers took an initiative to call for gender-balanced leadership, respect and root out workplace bias. Dr. Anice George, Dean, Manipal College of Nursing and Dr. Muralidhar V Pai, Professor and HoD of OBG Department, Kasturba Medical College Hospital inaugurated the Pledge For Parity on 8 March 2017 at 9 am. All students, faculty members and staff took this opportunity to pledge for gender parity and take a bold step towards making a positive change for women in their lives.

Celebration of the International Women’s Day 2017

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecological Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing Manipal along with Jcrt Wing JCI Kallianapura and Women’s Cell, Milagres College, Kallianapura celebrated the International Women’s Day 2107 on 8 March 2017. The programme was inaugurated by the dignitaries by lighting the traditional lamp. Jcrt Devika Prashanth, the chairperson of Jcrt Wing welcomed the gathering.

The dignitaries – Dr Muralidhar V Pai, Professor and HoD, Dept of OBG, Dr Anice George, Dean, MCON, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dr. Gerald Pinto, Principal, Milagres College, JFD Prashanth Acharya, JCI President Jcrt wing Chairperson Jcrt Devika Prashanth, Mrs. Savitha Kumari, PU College Principal, Mrs. Clara Menezes, Women’s cell convenor, Milagres college, Kallianpura and Dr Judith Noronha, Associate Dean and HoD, MCON, Manipal Academy of Higher Education felicitated the women achievers from various fields. The women achievers were Mrs Sabitha Umesh from the field of Social Service, Mrs Asha Poojari from the field of Agriculture, Mrs Mary Fernandes from the small-scale industry, Ms Sheryl Vigiliya from the field of education and Ms Prathiksha K from the field of sports.  

The Guest of Honour of the programme, Dr. Muralidhar V Pai, Professor & HoD of OBG Department of KMC, Manipal shed light on the theme- Be Bold for change. He spoke on how women were biologically stronger and have greater endurance compared to men. He also told that no one can bring change for women, not even politics, but it is every woman’s responsibility to bring change. Dr. Anice George, Dean, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal spoke on how International Women’s Day celebrations began and also elaborated on the meaning of the theme. She focused on main campaigning themes i.e., challenges against bias and equality between genders, taking a bold step for change against abuse, encouraging women’s advancement, celebrating women’s achievement and campaigning women’s education. Dr. Gerald Pinto, Principal of Milagres College, Kallianpur thanked constituent institutions of Manipal Academy of Higher Education for supporting many activities in Milagres College. Chairperson of JCrt Wing, JCrt Devika shared her views on celebration of International Women’s day and reiterated that women have the right to be loved and cared every day, not only on 8 March 2017. Dr. Judith A Noronha, Professor and HoD of Department of OBG Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal proposed the vote of thanks.  

Awareness on Priority Health Problems in Indian women on 8 March 2017

Dr Muralidhar V Pai, the speaker for the day displayed an award winning video on “Save the Girl Child” and then focused on the “Priority Health Problems in Indian women”. The health problems he deliberated were nutritional related problems, reproductive health issues, infectious diseases, malignancies and problems of aging. His talk focused on risk factors, causes and prevention of health problems in women and the necessity to educate women regarding the same. He was felicitated by JFD Prashanth Acharya, JCI President, Kallianpura.

Awareness on Women’s Social issues on 10 March 2017

Another awareness program on women’s social issues is planned to be held on 10 March 2017 at Milagres College, Kallianpur. Mrs Ida D’Souza, Assistant Professor- Selection grade, Department of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal will speak on “Women Social Issues like Gender equality, Sexual harassment and Domestic violence”.