Media Release

Mangaluru, Aug 3: Department of Public Health of K S Hegde Medical Academy of Nitte (Deemed to be University), Nitte Medical Simulation Centre and Nitte Usha Institute of Nursing Sciences are jointly organising a two-day training program APATHBANDU – The Nitte Smart Health Village Project on August 4 and 5, 2021 at Atal Incubation Center in Nitte Village of Karkala of Udupi district.

The inaugural function of the programme is organized on August 4 at 9.30 am at JKSH Management Institute Auditorium. G Jagadeesha, deputy commissioner and district magistrate of Udupi district will be the chief guest of the programme. Chancellor of Nitte (Deemed to be University) N Vinaya Hegde will preside over the function. Dr Satheesh Kumar Bhandary, vice-chancellor, Nitte (Deemed to be University) will be the guest of honour. Dr Niranjan Chiplunkar, principal NMAMIT, professor Shankaran, director, Justice K S Hegde Institute of Management, Nitte, Dr A P Achar, CEO, Atal Incubation Center, Nitte and Dr Fatima Dsilva, principal, Nitte Usha Institute of Nursing Sciences will participate in the function.
Nitte Covid–19 Home Isolation App- CoviSwas will also be launched on the occasion.

‘APATHBANDU training program for youth volunteers in the community is a brainchild of Dr Satheesh Kumar Bhandary vice chancellor, Nitte (Deemed to be University) which aims to establish a community-based model for First aid & Emergency Care across the entire Nitte Grama Panchayat area, in the first stage.

The experts will provide training to volunteers in first aid to patients experiencing cardiac arrest, choking, drowning, Trauma care, snake and insects bite in addition to wounds management.

The process involves sensitization of the community and giving emergency care training to all those interested at the primary care level, linking up with the existing health system, establishing an instant response for acute emergency and home care programs to care for patients at their village.

In addition to establishing emergency and first aid Care services through local volunteers for the needy at Nitte, this demonstration project is also expected to serve as a model for developing similar projects in other rural set-ups in Coastal Karnataka and India.

A two-day training program is conducted to 15 potential Apathbandhus, locally identified and selected by the Panchayath members and Panchayath Development Officer.
The valedictory programme is organized on August 5 at 4 pm at Atal Incubation Center in Nitte Village of Karkala of Udupi district.
District health officer of Udupi district Dr Nagabhushan Udupa will participate as the chief guest. Dr Satheesh Kumar Bhandary, vice-chancellor, Nitte (Deemed to be University) will preside over the function.