Sustainable Nitte

GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

Sustainable development is defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) demands a comprehensive and integrated approach supported by collective action at all levels. Health is central to this agenda through Sustainable Development Goal 3, which seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, coupled with emerging and re-emerging communicable diseases, underscores the urgent need for accessible, high-quality healthcare, effective health education, and the creation of healthier communities. Universities play a transformative role in advancing these objectives by fostering innovation, research, and community engagement. Nitte (Deemed to be University) has been contributing to this mission for over a decade and a half through its commitment to academic excellence, healthcare services, and social responsibility. To achieve the 2030 targets under SDG 3, focused efforts are directed toward reducing maternal and child mortality; ending epidemics such as AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria,and neglected tropical diseases; combating hepatitis and water-borne diseases; reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases; promoting mental health; preventing substance abuse; ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare; achieving universal health coverage; reducing illness due to pollution; strengthening research in vaccines and medicines; enhancing health financing and workforce capacity; and improving preparedness for national and global health risks.

The Justice K S Hegde Charitable Hospital of Nitte University is a 1000-bedded tertiary hospital with its 423-chair dental college (ABSMIDS) and 23 peripheral health centres.

Several international collaborations are dedicated specifically to faculty and student exchange programs. University of Minnesota facilitates student exchanges in public health, while Université Paul Sabatier supports exchange programs for medical and dental students. Similarly, Wake Forest University collaborates in the area of Medical Microbiology through student exchange initiatives.

A B Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences maintains active student and faculty exchange programs with Radboud University and Université Paul Sabatier. The institute has established Memoranda of Understanding with Cleft Child International, Smile Care, Indian Dental Association, and Osaka Dental University. It also maintains academic linkages with University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Okayama Dental School, and Regional Cancer Centre to strengthen collaborative research and academic exchange.

Nitte Usha Institute of Nursing Sciences has developed robust student exchange programs with VIA University College, Ghent University, Drottning Blanka Gymnasieskola, UCL University College, and University College Copenhagen, thereby enhancing global exposure and academic collaboration in nursing education.

Justice K S Hegde Charitable Hospital is a 1,000-bed tertiary care teaching hospital and the main clinical training center of NITTE (Deemed to be University). It offers 12 specialties and 15 super-specialties, serving over 5 lakh outpatients and 50,000 inpatients annually across Dakshina Kannada and nearby regions. It is the teaching hospital for K S Hegde Medical Academy, admitting 250 MBBS students each year.

The hospital provides advanced services including an IVF lab, Level-1 sleep lab, tissue bank, burns unit, pediatric ICU, and specialty clinics. It performs procedures such as radiofrequency ablation, catheter-directed thrombolysis, and ERG testing. It is licensed for multiple tissue transplants, functions as an ADR Monitoring Centre under India’s Pharmacovigilance Programme, an approved ATLS training center, and houses NABL-accredited laboratories. Robotic-assisted surgeries in orthopedics and urology further enhance its clinical capabilities.

The Nitte Centre for Omics and Systems Medicine promotes precision and translational healthcare research by integrating genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and systems biology. It focuses on early disease detection, biomarker discovery, and personalized treatment for cancer, infectious, and metabolic diseases, enabling data-driven innovation and improved clinical outcomes.

NITTE (Deemed to be University) runs a network of 23 rural health centres in remote and underserved areas across three districts, reaching nearly 250,000 people each year with essential healthcare services. These centres play a vital role in bridging healthcare gaps by providing free medical consultations and medications, along with affordable dental care and basic laboratory services.

Beyond primary care, the centres also serve as an important link to higher-level treatment. Patients are guided through specialist referrals and supported in accessing free or subsidized advanced care at the university’s teaching hospital. Through this coordinated system, NITTE ensures a seamless continuum of care while promoting better health outcomes in rural communities.

Neevu Kshemave” is a health-focused TV program on Daijiworld TV featuring specialist doctors from Justice K.S. Hegde Charitable Hospital. It covers diverse medical topics, offering expert insights, prevention tips, and treatment guidance, making it a reliable and educational resource for viewers seeking trustworthy health information.

• In 2012, K S Hegde Medical Academy launched ‘Grama KSHEMA’, involving MBBS students in rural health education, health camps, and research.
• The university has adopted 1500 rural families, offering free health insurance coverage of ₹30,000 per year.
• Annual outreach health camps provide specialist services in multiple departments including Medicine, Surgery, Ophthalmology, Paediatrics, Orthopaedics, Dermatology, ENT, and Obstetrics & Gynaecology.
• Camps recorded 1192 patient visits, with 118 referrals to the teaching hospital and 16 surgeries performed
• On 25 January 2025, NSS Unit, Youth Red Cross, and Red Ribbon Club of NIPE conducted a blood donation camp at KSRTC Bus Stand, Mangaluru.



• Nitte Institute of Physiotherapy conducted a 5-day physiotherapy camp (17–21 Feb 2025) at Nitte Gajria Specialty Hospital, Karkala, offering care for pain management, rehabilitation, and functional mobility, with structured follow-up to ensure continued patient progress.



• ABSMIDS has, for over a decade, provided free treatment for cleft and craniofacial deformities funded by Cleft Children International and Smile Train, conducting weekly rural camps in Karnataka and Kerala for patient identification and free surgeries/dental care, supported by ~₹2 crore funding with quality-audited outcomes.
• The NSS Unit of NUINS organized an Annual Special Camp (3–8 March 2025) at St. Lawrence Aided High School, Moodubelle.





• Nitte Institute of Physiotherapy conducted a 5-day physiotherapy camp (17–21 Feb 2025) at Nitte Gajria Specialty Hospital, Karkala, offering care for pain management, rehabilitation, and functional mobility, with structured follow-up to ensure continued patient progress



• The Department of Public Health Dentistry, ABSMIDS, in collaboration with Justice K S Hegde Dental Clinic (Nitte) and the Department of Psychiatry, KSHEMA, conducted an Oral Health Awareness Camp on 20 March 2025 to mark World Oral Health Day 2025.



• The Department of Public Health Dentistry, ABSMIDS, in collaboration with multiple community organizations, conducted a free anti-tobacco awareness and dental treatment camp on 29 June 2025 at Thokur to mark World No Tobacco Day 2025.





• The Department of Public Health Dentistry, AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences in association with the Indian Cancer Society, conducted a free anti-tobacco awareness and oral health awareness camp at Government High School, Permannur on 22.08.2025.>



• The Department of Public Health Dentistry, AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences in association with Rotary Club, Surathkal and Mahila Mandala, Kulai conducted a free dental treatment camp at the Mahila Mandala on 24.08.2025.



• Justice K S Hegde Institute of Management organized a Blood Donation Camp on 21st November 2025 at the JKSHIM Auditorium. The event was jointly conducted by the Youth Red Cross Unit and NSS Unit in collaboration with Samvedana and Nitte Gajria Speciality Hospital.



• Mangaluru, October 7, 2025 — The NSS unit of NICO conducted an awareness session titled “The Hidden Dangers of E-Waste: Why It’s More Than Just Trash” was successfully organized today at the University Auditorium, NICO Building in observance of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board’s (KSPCB) Golden Jubilee celebration. The session aimed to mobilize students and staff toward more responsible waste management practices.



• NSS unit of A B Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences commemorated International Yoga Day 2025 on 20th June 2025 at Aavishkaar Hall, A B Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences.



• A Nasha Mukth Bharat Abhiyan awareness program was conducted by NSS Unit II of Nitte Institute of Physiotherapy on 23rd August 2025. The session highlighted the importance of substance abuse prevention and its harmful effects on physical and mental health, academic performance, and overall quality of life. It was delivered in an interactive manner with relevant real-life examples to enhance understanding among students. The session concluded with an engaging question-and-answer segment, during which participants actively clarified their doubts. A total of 105 students participated in the program
• An awareness programme on drug abuse was held at the Town Hall on 26 June 2025, organised in collaboration with Mangalore City Police, the NSS Unit of Nitte Institute of Architecture, the Rotaract Club of Nitte (Deemed to be University), and the Rotary Club of Mangalore.
• The event aimed to address rising concerns over substance abuse among youth and brought together students, parents, educators, and the public to promote awareness and prevention, with a total participation of around 800 people.Speakers highlighted the importance of education, family support, and community vigilance in tackling drug addiction. A student skit also depicted the harmful impact of drug abuse on health and society.



• As part of Women’s Day week (07 March 2025), the NSS Unit conducted a menstrual hygiene awareness program in Ira Village, educating women and adolescent girls through home visits and distributing hygiene kits to promote safe practices and awareness.







• The NSS Unit of the Nitte Institute of Allied Health Sciences (NIAHS) organized a 5K marathon on April 24, 2025, as part of the Prime Minister’s Fit India – Fit Me movement. The event was conducted exclusively for the staff and faculty of Nitte Deemed-to-be University (Nitte DU) and saw an overwhelming response, with more than 900 participants taking part. The marathon aimed to promote physical fitness, well-being, and a culture of active living within the university community.







• First Aid and Emergency Training programmes were conducted during the year 2025 for NSS Programme Officers, NSS Volunteers, school teachers, and student volunteers.







Glimpse of First Aid and Emergency Training programmes



• The Youth Red Cross Unit and the NSS Unit of Justice K S Hegde Institute of Management (JKSHIM) organized a blood donation camp on 21st November 2025 at the JKSHIM Auditorium. By the end of the camp, a total of 55 units of blood had been successfully collected. These donations will significantly support hospitals in managing medical emergencies and meeting the needs of scheduled treatments









• Nitte Institute of Hospitality Services (NIHS), in association with KSHEMA, NSS Nitte DU, and Karnataka State Police, organized a programme on ‘Awareness of Drug abuse’ with the theme “Empowered Lives, Drug-free future” on 16th September 2025