By Dr. Maninder Singh Dhaliwal
Pediatrician, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We talk to parents about sleep safety, choking hazards, bike helmets, screen time, and the importance of vaccinations. But here\u2019s the catch: we rarely get to see the actual lives we\u2019ve changed. There\u2019s no news, when a toddler doesn\u2019t tip over a TV. No media when a teen walks away from a bike fall with just a scrape. Because the bad thing never happened. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll never know which baby didn\u2019t die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) because a parent followed your advice on safe sleep; or which child avoided lifelong disability or illness because they got their vaccines on time. That\u2019s the curse\u2014and the beauty\u2014of prevention: it works best when nothing happens. Vaccines? They\u2019re superheroes in plain clothes. They simply stand guard, blocking diseases before they reach the door. They are masters of making nothing happen\u2014and that is everything. So let\u2019s embrace this invisible art. Let\u2019s give time to preventive counseling, not just prescriptions and procedures. There\u2019s silent magic in it. Let\u2019s be proud of being masters of nothing happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Training Beyond the Call of Duty<\/strong> Example<\/strong>: A group of interns who attended a simulation workshop later conducted a quality improvement project on factors which cause delay in breastfeeding initiation in their labor room. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Result<\/strong>: A significant improvement over six months. A simple study, but with definite results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n About ISBR Business School: <\/strong>ISBR Business School, located in Bangalore, India, is a premier institution dedicated to providing world-class education in business and management. Accredited by the NBA and recognized by the Association of Indian Universities and the Ministry of HRD, Government of India, ISBR has consistently been ranked as a platinum institute by AICTE-CII. With a diverse student body, a strong emphasis on industry collaboration, and a curriculum designed to foster innovation and leadership, ISBR Business School is committed to shaping the business leaders of tomorrow. The school\u2019s robust placement record and partnerships with top global companies underscore its commitment to excellence and career readiness for its students<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Dr. Maninder Singh DhaliwalPediatrician, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad \u201cSave a newborn or a child, and you don\u2019t just save a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":9214,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[836,26,6],"tags":[3195,3201,3199,3197,27,3194,3193,3202,3204,3198,3200,3196],"class_list":["post-9213","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-isbr","category-pgdm","tag-child-health-india","tag-gut-microbiome-health","tag-healthcare-innovation","tag-healthcare-magazine-2025","tag-isbr-business-school","tag-isbr-healthcare-management","tag-maternal-health","tag-medical-education-india","tag-pgdm-in-healthcare","tag-pregnancy-care-policy","tag-public-health-in-india","tag-world-health-day-2025"],"yoast_head":"\n
Introduction
<\/strong>They say a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. In healthcare, that step is often a cry; the first cry of a newborn, a sound that holds the promise of a hopeful future. Across my career; through government hospitals, private setups, trust-run centers, and academia, one truth echoes: maternal and newborn health is the foundation of everything that follows. World Health Day 2025\u2019s theme, \u201cHealthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,\u201d resonates deeply, with all humanity especially us, pediatricians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Power of One: You and Me<\/strong>
You don\u2019t need a title to make a difference. Whether you’re a pediatrician, surgeon, nurse, student, administrator, you can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
And here lies the importance of preventive medicine, which is much more stronger than any curative medicine. Case in point<\/strong>: A first-time mother in any setup is counseled during an antenatal visit about exclusive breastfeeding, maternal nutrition and vaccination. That 15-minute interaction saves her newborn from feeding myths, saves her from malnutrition and vaccination prevents so many diseases. These all complications never happened, because of right preventive counseling. That is the power of preventive medicine, quiet, thankless, and often invisible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond the OPDs and ICU shifts, there\u2019s another heartbeat; a passion for training others to save lives. Through IAP (Indian Academy of Pediatrics) and PediSTARS, we have had the privilege of leading Pediatric CPR and Neonatal Resuscitation trainings via programs like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
These simulation-based workshops provide a safe space to practice high-stakes scenarios repeatedly, encouraging behavior change and improving team coordination under pressure. Case Example: During community CPR training, a citizen never new how to respond to an unconscious child, and now after attending a BLS course, he successfully attended to a child who had a road traffic accident. The child survived because of the training, that\u2019s the power of these courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No rupees, no recognition, just the reward of knowing that somewhere, a life was saved because someone remembered their training. \u201cYou may forget the trainer, but not the baby saved because of the training.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Degrees and Directions: When Doctors & Others Turn Managers<\/strong>
More healthcare professionals today are earning MBAs alongside MBBS or MD degrees. Why? Because impact multiplies when clinicians also learn to manage systems and resources. From head of department to hospital director, it\u2019s a journey of spreadsheets and strategy, but the heart still listens. \u201cIn management, you trade your stethoscope for spreadsheets\u2014but you still keep listening.\u201d Also, non-medico managers bring fresh perspectives to the table, seeing operational blind spots that clinicians might miss due to caregiving biases. Mixed leadership is not just ideal\u2014it\u2019s essential.
Example<\/strong>: In one PICU, a quality manager flagged the delay in blood gas reporting. It wasn\u2019t the machine, it was the transport time. A simple logistical change reduced turnaround time and improved outcomes. No medicine, just management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The NGO Route: Where Passion Meets Purpose<\/strong>
Organizations like IMA (Indian Medical Association), IAP, and PediSTARS prove that when passionate people unite, real change happens. Campaigns don\u2019t just tick boxes; they save lives. From iron deficiency awareness drives to autism awareness to vaccination campaigns etc, supported by both government and private sectors, NGOs amplify the voice of public health. \u201cAn NGO isn\u2019t just an organization; it\u2019s compassion in action.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From Lecture Halls to Bedside Action<\/strong>
Medical colleges are not just about degrees; they\u2019re incubators for innovation and empathy. By integrating simulation, encouraging maternal-child health research, and nurturing young minds, we grow not just doctors, but dreamers. \u201cYou\u2019re not just learning medicine, you\u2019re learning how to carry a community\u2019s hope.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where Do We Go From Here?<\/strong>
Let\u2019s aim higher. Together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
With tech, teamwork, and tenacity, let\u2019s keep training, teaching, collaborating; because we want to do it, for the right cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One Final Thought<\/strong>
Babies are the world\u2019s way of saying, \u201cDon\u2019t give up yet.\u201d And every mother is the warrior who makes sure that message gets delivered safely. So wherever you are: hospital, classroom, or CPR training: Pause. Reflect. And Remember: \u201cA hopeful future isn\u2019t something we wait for. It\u2019s something we build: heartbeat by heartbeat.\u201d Let\u2019s together as a community, make every mother and every baby count.<\/p>\n\n\n\n