PGIMER commences training on Management of Public Health Emergencies

New Delhi: The Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER Chandigarh in collaboration with National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi is organizing a two weeks training on "Management of Public Health Emergencies" for the district health officials of Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh from 20thJan to 01st Feb 2020.

The total number of 30 participants who will be attending the training. The objective of this training is to enhance the knowledge and skills of the district health officials for the preparedness of public health emergencies. The training is funded by NIHFW and the coordinator of the training is Professor of Epidemiology, Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh.

This training will cover various concepts of disaster management and will provide exposure to the participants with mock-drills and management exercises along with field visits to various units in Hospitals, Fire Station, School, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Air Force Medical Services.

Public health emergencies can arise from a wide range of causes, including outbreaks of contagious, life-threatening disease, natural disasters, as well as chemical contamination of the environment and the release of radiation. In emergencies, large numbers of people may require medical attention, health care systems may be over-stretched, and public order may be threatened. India is especially vulnerable to natural disasters because of its unique geo-climatic conditions, having recurrent floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes, and landslides.

Out of 36 States and Union Territories (UTs) in the country, 27 are disaster-prone. 58.6% landmass is prone to earthquakes of moderate to very high intensity; 12% land is prone to flood and river erosion; out of 7,516 km coastline, 5,700 km is prone to cyclones and tsunamis; 68% of the cultivable land is vulnerable to drought, hilly areas are at risk from landslides and avalanches, and 15% of landmass is prone to landslides. Heavy rains have wreaked havoc in North India including in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab. Earthquakes have also occurred in North India, however, damage from earthquakes in the region has mostly occurred during large events originating in the Himalayas.

Being prone to such vulnerable situations the training of the district health officials has come very timely to enhance the knowledge and skills of the District health officers in the area of management of Public Health Emergencies so that they will be able to manage and improve services in their districts.