Health outreach programmes
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) demonstrates this commitment through extensive outreach programs that bridge health and education. Its activities span rural villages, schools, industries, and international communities, addressing hygiene, nutrition, mental health, ageing, and preventive care. During National Nutrition Week 2024, MAHE conducted programs in Anganwadi centres to teach mothers about feeding practices for infants, adolescents, and elders (Report link). The Eco Femme Menstrual Hygiene Project, run with TAPMI, reached over 350 adolescent girls in Udupi government schools, combining menstrual education with the distribution of reusable cloth pads to encourage sustainable, stigma-free practices. Health camps by Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Mangalore, screened rural populations for anaemia, diabetes, hypertension, and COPD, with high-risk cases referred for advanced care. Awareness platforms such as Radio Manipal 90.4 FM further expanded reach with programs on genetic counselling and World Health Day 2024 (“My Health, My Right”), bringing accessible, science-based health information to the community.
MAHE’s school and community health initiatives emphasize the importance of early intervention and health literacy. The School Health Program (2024) screened 74 students in Udupi, identifying 47 requiring dental treatment and 13 needing ophthalmology consultations (Report link). Anganwadi-based sessions taught under-five children personal hygiene using flashcards and songs (Report link), while First Aid Awareness programs trained students in emergency response skills (Report link). Campaigns such as National Public Health Dentistry Day 2024, HIV/AIDS awareness street plays, and World No Tobacco Day 2024 outreach events engaged hundreds of students, industrial workers, and residents, driving dialogue on prevention and behavioural change (Report link). In Indrali slum (Udupi, 2024), MAHE’s student nurses conducted health sessions for 80 residents, combining awareness with games and essential distributions (Report link). Internationally, outreach extended to Sharjah’s New Indian Model School, where nutrition education sessions addressed food fads among immigrant children.
MAHE’s outreach model integrates local relevance with global responsibility—reaching vulnerable populations, encouraging early health education, and promoting sustainable behaviour change. Its initiatives have achieved measurable outcomes: early detection and referrals for hundreds of individuals, significant gains in hygiene and nutrition literacy, adoption of eco-friendly menstrual practices, and empowerment of underserved and migrant communities. By merging education, service, and research, MAHE exemplifies how universities operationalize SDG 3.3.2—building resilient, informed, and health-conscious societies.