KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research (deemed to be a university), Institute of Nursing Sciences Belagavi, in collaboration with the Society of Midwives-India (SOMI) and the Trained Nurses’ Association of India (Karnataka State Branch), organized the National Conference on Fostering Innovations in Midwifery: Moving Forward in Maternal and Newborn Care on 22  ^nd and 23  ^rd March 2024, at KLE’s Centenary Convention Center, JNMC, Belagavi, Karnataka. The event brought together a total of 586 delegates from various institutions across the country. The delegates represented Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Bihar, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and students and faculty of Southern Cross University, Australia. Nurse midwifery educators, nursing officers, nurse practitioners in midwifery, faculty, and Ph.D. scholars participated.

In these two days, eight plenary sessions including 2 panel discussions, 30 posters, and 55 paper presentations were conducted, followed by a cultural event. Dr. Usha Ukande, President, SOMI, and Director, Edu Serum X College of Nursing, Indore, enlightened the gathering with her key note address. Mrs. Sheetal Samson, National Midwifery Educator, National Midwifery Training Institute, Fernandez Foundation, Hyderabad, expressed the importance of a midwife-led care unit and how it makes a difference in natural birthing. Dr. Preeti K. Doddwad, Chief Co-ordinator, KLE Society’s Swashakti Empowerment Cell for Women, Belagavi, addressed the role of NGOs in enhancing women’s health. Other resource persons for the conference were Dr. Remya Chidambaran, Prof. & Principal, Lisieux CON, Ernakulum, Kerala; Prof. (Dr.) Jyoti Naikare, Principal & HOD, Department of Child Health Nursing, Sinhgad College of Nursing, Pune; Ms. Sarah Coxon, Director, Midwifery Initiatives, Aastrika Foundation, Bengaluru and Dr. Reena Wilma Frank, Associate Professor, Department of OBG Nursing, Father Muller CON, Mangaluru.

Prof.(Dr) Veereshkumar Nandgaon, Principal, welcomed the gathering and introduced the dignitaries. Following this, modules on prenatal education and essential newborn care were released during the event. The chief guest of the conference, Dr. Nitin Gangane, Vice Chancellor, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, Belagavi, addressed the event and said that all stages of nursing education are essential parts of health care, and he also pointed out that a healthy mother and healthy children lead to a healthy generation.

Dr. Usha Ukande, President, SOMI, and Director, Edu Serum X College of Nursing, Indore, and Dr. K. Ramu, Dean, RR College of Nursing, and Vice President, TNAI Bengaluru Zone were the guest of honors. Dr. Sangeeta Kharade, Organizing Secretary proposed the vote of thanks; Prof.(Dr) Preeti Bhupali, Dean; and Dr. Asha Bhat, Joint Organizing Secretary shared the stage. The Indian Nursing Council and the Karnataka Nursing Council had given credit points for the conference.