BHUBANESWAR:AIIMS Bhubaneswar will set up a School of Public Health to lead education, research and community-level interventions for tackling public health problems afflicting the State.
The State Government has committed to provide 13 acres of land for establishment of the facility that holds immense significance for Odisha, which is beset with enormous public health issues like frequent outbreak of communicable diseases and rising incidence of non-communicable diseases. The State witnesses more than 100 outbreaks like diarrhoea, cholera, hepatitis and dengue every year while non-communicable diseases like cardiac problems, diabetes, cancer and respiratory diseases are increasing in prevalence.
“The Government has identified about 13 acres of land for development of the School of Public Health and will transfer it to AIIMS soon”, Chief Secretary GC Pati said, attending the third Foundation Day celebrations of the institute on Wednesday.
The specialised school under AIIMS will strive to create specialist workforce in public health, both clinical and non-clinical, who would have a firm grip of the specific problems faced by the State and be capable of preventing outbreaks and containing spread of diseases in the community. It will also conduct further research to determine and establish key characteristics and vulnerabilities of Odisha to different public health issues.
AIIMS Bhubaneswar has already partnered with the State Government to conduct epidemic management programme for newly appointed doctors. They are being trained in managing different outbreak situations through effective treatment interventions apart from prevention measures.
Taking part in the Foundation Day celebration, Governing Body member and president of Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) emphasised on increase in health expenditure to be able to tackle the rise in disease burden in the country. While people have to be made aware of lifestyle diseases, essential medicines should be made available free of cost.
A blood donation camp and tree plantation programme was organised to mark the occasion along with scientific sessions on different public health challenges, holistic approach towards life and work and hygiene.
Director Prof AK Mohapatra, Dean Prof Vikas Bhatia, Prof Bidyut Das and Prof Dillip Kumar Parida also spoke.