Dear Colleagues,
Warm greetings from the Indian Academy of Pediatrics!
August is a month that beautifully reflects the spirit of pediatric care—care that extends beyond the clinic and reaches families, communities, and society at large. It reminds us that our responsibility as pediatricians is not only to treat illness, but also to empower, educate, prevent, and serve. Through awareness, knowledge dissemination, and meaningful community engagement, we can create a lasting impact on the health and well-being of children.
We observed World Breastfeeding Week (1–7 August), an important occasion to reaffirm the vital role of breastfeeding in ensuring optimal nutrition, growth, development, and protection from disease. Breastfeeding is one of the most effective and accessible interventions for child health, yet mothers and families continue to face several challenges, misconceptions, and social barriers. As pediatricians, we have an important role in providing evidence-based guidance, supporting mothers with empathy, and creating an enabling environment in which every mother feels informed, confident, and supported.
This year, it has been particularly encouraging to see how IAP's initiatives are increasingly extending the reach of pediatric knowledge through digital platforms. The IAP Digi Academy, an initiative of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, is enabling us to take structured, credible, and evidence-based learning beyond physical boundaries and make it accessible to a much larger audience. By harnessing the power of digital education, we can strengthen the capabilities of our members, healthcare professionals, and communities while ensuring that knowledge reaches those who need it most.
The momentum from the National BLS & CPR Day (21 July) and ORS Day & ORS Week (25–31 July) has further reinforced an important message: simple knowledge, when translated into timely action, can save lives. Basic life support, appropriate management of dehydration, and awareness of proven life-saving interventions are areas where every trained individual can become an agent of change. Our collective responsibility is to ensure that these essential messages reach not only pediatricians, but also parents, teachers, caregivers, and the wider community.
As we look ahead to IAP Charity Day on 26 August, we are reminded of another important dimension of our Academy's identity. IAP is not merely a scientific and professional organization; it is also a national movement committed to improving the lives of children. Charity and service are expressions of that commitment. Through school-based initiatives, training programmes, health awareness activities, vaccination initiatives, and other community-focused efforts, our members continue to take pediatric care beyond the hospital and into society.
I firmly believe that the true strength of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics lies in the collective efforts of its members. When knowledge is shared, skills are strengthened, and service reaches the community, our impact extends far beyond what any individual can achieve alone. The growing integration of physical outreach with digital platforms such as the IAP Digi Academy offers us an opportunity to build a stronger, more connected, and more responsive pediatric community.
As we move through the year, let us continue to place children at the centre of everything we do. Let us educate with empathy, practise with scientific excellence, serve with compassion, and use every available opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of children and families across our country.
Together, let us transform knowledge into action.
Together, let us strengthen our outreach.
Together, let us continue to build a healthier future for every child.
With warm regards and best wishes,
Dr. Neelam Mohan
President
Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) – 2026