Bhubaneswar: In its efforts towards ensuring qualitative health services, the Odisha government has expedited the process for establishment of a comprehensive branch of National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in the state.
At a high-level meeting, chaired by secretary, Health and Family Welfare department Shalini Pandit in Bhubaneswar on Thursday, the registered land-deed and possession was handed over to NCDC.
Speaking on the occasion, Pandit said Odisha has rolled out transformative approach in quality health care services and establishment of NCDC will add to this process. The state government worked in collaboration with Central units like RMRC, Institute of Life Sciences and AIIMS during the COVID pandemic. This collaboration proved very successful in containment of the pandemic. NCDC would further strengthen state’s strength in disease surveillance and public health service, she added.
Director General of Health Services Prof Atul Goel said NCDC at Bhubaneswar would be like a regional centre of Health and Family Welfare of the Centre. The institute would work in collaboration with state machinery for improving disease surveillance, and control of diseases having public health implications, he added.
Director Public Health Dr Niranjan Mishra said the state’s approach in prevention and containment of the pandemic was appreciated globally.
The state government has approved the proposal for establishment NCDC with a state of art laboratory in and allotted the land at Andharua in Khurda district, free of premium, and waiver of registration fees. The land registered deed was signed by CDMO, Khurda Dr Artabandhu Nayak and Director General Dr Goel.
It may be mentioned that NCDC under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is the nodal agency in the country for disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, rapid response for disasters, and prevention and control of communicable diseases.
Joint Director, NCDC Dr Shikha Vardhan, Regional Director Dr Suchitra Sasmal, Director Public Health Dr Niranjan Mishra along with senior officers of departments concerned were present.
