Chandigarh:- The Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) Cell of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, organised an impactful seminar titled “Sleep Health Literacy: Knowledge | Awareness | Better Health” on October 27, 2026, at the APC Auditorium, PGIMER. Around 90 participants attended the programme, including Senior Nursing Officers, Nursing Officers, faculty members of the National Institute of Nursing Education (NINE), resident doctors and various healthcare professionals. They came together to build greater awareness about sleep hygiene, shift-work challenges and the long-term consequences of untreated sleep disorders.
The seminar began with an introductory address by Dr. Navneet Dhaliwal, Joint Medical Superintendent, PGIMER, who emphasised the crucial role of sleep health literacy in ensuring the personal well-being and clinical efficiency of healthcare staff.
Delivering a talk titled “Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Beyond Snoring — The Hidden Consequences: Protecting Our Patients, Ourselves, and Our Family,” Prof. Sandeep Bansal from the Department of Otolaryngology (ENT), PGIMER, and President of the Indian Association of Surgeons for Sleep Apnea (IASSSA), provided a comprehensive overview of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). He highlighted key signs and symptoms beyond snoring, introduced simple assessment scales for early risk evaluation and outlined the underlying anatomical causes. Prof. Bansal also explained preventive measures, particularly weight management, and discussed treatment options tailored to both adult and paediatric populations.
Dr. Monica Sharma (MPhil, PhD), a former sleep consultant to the Indian Olympic contingent at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with 18 years of experience, delivered an engaging session on “Circadian Medicine for Health Professionals — Sleep, Safety, and Shift Work.” She shared evidence-informed lifestyle adjustments, cognitive techniques and practical relaxation strategies designed to reduce shift-work fatigue and improve overall sleep quality. She also discussed practical preventive measures to address common sleep disruptors, including caffeine consumption, its timing and physiological effects on sleep; optimising mobile screen display settings to minimise blue-light-related circadian disruption; and effectively incorporating strategic napping routines.
The seminar concluded with a formal felicitation ceremony, during which the guest speakers and organisers were honoured by Prof. Ashok Kumar, Medical Superintendent and Head of the Department of Hospital Administration, PGIMER, along with Prof. Pankaj Arora, Additional Professor Vijay Tadia and Additional Professor Shweta from the Department of Hospital Administration. The successful event concluded with refreshments being served to all attendees.
