Bhubaneswar: Public health has assumed centrestage across the globe.
The need to focus on community health, healthcare and allied activities became more profound during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Internationally-acclaimed Public Health expert and Vice-Chancellor of AIPH University Bhubaneswar, the premier Public Health institution in eastern India, Padma Shri Prof. Dr Aditya Prasad Dash has elaborated on the canvas, importance and scope of Public Health as a crucial facet of education and research for students and researchers.
Here are his views:
How do you describe ‘Public Health’, its scope and importance in today’s time and in the future?
The World Health Organization (WHO) defined Public Health as ‘the art and science of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts of society.’ The importance of Public Health need not be over-emphasized. During COVID-19 pandemic, the entire world understood the role of Public Health. The scope of Public Health, especially in the education and research sectors, is enormous. In my view, the nations should promote education, research, training and skilling in the domain.
Public Health has a wide spectrum. What are the various domains and areas that play important roles in Public Health management, especially in a country like India?
Yes, Public Health has a wide spectrum. It covers many areas, starting from epidemiology and public health to social work, covering areas like microbiology, biomedical sciences, virology, molecular health sciences, data sciences, health economics, information and communication technology, health care management, physiotherapy, geriatric nursing and clinical psychology etc.
How do you see the demand for Public Health professionals globally these days?
The demand of Public Health professionals is quite high with emerging trends in quality healthcare services, research and management. In fact, at reputed universities with standard course curricula, the students get placement even before their results are declared.
How can today’s youth choose the career options available in the sector and harness opportunities?
What is needed is awareness. Today’s students and youth should be well aware of the importance of Public Health and Allied Health Sciences in comparison to other courses. Because, this sector offers a wide range of career options for them globally. So, we need to spread awareness on the subject and give the young people brighter career choices in the subject. Consequently, more and more students will search for education and research avenues in the area. I am happy to inform that lots of youth are already showing keen interest to pursue studies in different aspects of Public Health in comparison to the past.
AIPH University, Bhubaneswar is offering different programmes in the area of Public Health, Health Management, Biological Sciences and Allied Health Sciences. How will students choose the right programmes to achieve their career goals?
It depends on the background education of the students and their interest in a subject. Public Health has a wide spectrum. The students can easily choose their favourite subject. The faculty members at AIPH University Bhubaneswar will be happy to help the prospective students in selecting of the right subject. Public Health and Allied subjects will help the students fetch employability in the global arena. One can visit our university website www.aiph.ac.in to get more information on the courses and facilities offered.
There are other institutions in India which offer different programmes in the area of Public Health. So what makes AIPH University Bhubaneswar unique?
AIPH University is the first functional Public Health university in India and the only one of its kind in the eastern part of the country. It has many key features. Among the important ones are excellent faculty, updated course curricula, world-class research ecosystem, global collaborations and exclusive student-faculty interaction. It provides ample opportunities to students for their growth and development. AIPH University gives prime importance to ethics.
Tell us about the mobile BSL-3 Lab facility you have at the university. How does it help the students and faculty in meeting their research outlook?
AIPH University Bhubaneswar has a mobile BSL-3 (Biosafety Level – 3) laboratory. It is one of the unique features of the university. It will help the faculty and students a lot for their training and research works. AIPH University is the only university in India which has a movable BSL-3 lab. This high-end lab is a unique strength for the AIPH University Bhubaneswar which has given quality research work exposure to our faculty as well as the students.
What about placement opportunities provided by AIPH University Bhubaneswar to its students?
As mentioned earlier, there is growing demand for professionals in the field of Public Health and allied sector globally. AIPH University Bhubaneswar produces the future workforce in Public Health and host of other subjects in the domain and makes them industry-ready. Till date, most students of the university have secured placement in reputed organizations.
Over the last few years, Bhubaneswar has become an important hub of education in India. How can the AIPH University add value to the education ecosystem of Odisha, being the exclusive university in the domain of Public Health and Health Management?
AIPH University has already established itself as a unique institution in the domain of public health located in Odisha. It also caters to the need of imparting Public Health Higher Education for the neighbouring states. In the years to come, with opening of other public health domains, the university will attract the best of the students not only from different parts of India but from other countries too. The education ecosystem of Odisha will be enriched by the presence of this Public Health university with innovative teaching and research.
Kindly inform about the affiliations, important collaborations and partnerships AIPHU has in the national and global arena. How does it help the students in shaping their career goals?
Formed under the State Legislature of Odisha, AIPH University Bhubaneswar is known for its strong collaborations with renowned institutes in India and abroad. It has collaboration with the ICMR, DBT institutes, ICAR institutes and many universities in the state. It also has very strong collaboration with a number of universities in the USA. AIPH University is recognized by UGC which has also issued ‘2f’ certificate to AIPHU. The Microbiology Department of AIPHU has received the Best Department honour by the Microbiologists Society of India.
Research and Community Connect are important aspects of Public Health. How do you present your activities in that direction?
As far as research is concerned, AIPH University Bhubaneswar has been doing extremely well. In a very short time, it has published one paper in Nature, one in Lancet and one in Nature Medicine; in addition to several excellent publication in high impact peer reviewed international journals.
It is a new university, at an early infant stage. Still, the H-index of the university has become 18 and citation per paper is 25.03. These figures indicate the successful research carried out at the university. It is even much more than a few new Government universities which are 10 years older.
The AIPH University has an excellent community connection. It has two vast field sites, one in Khurda district and the other in Sundargarh district, to carry out field-oriented community-based studies. Community studies and community responsibilities are priority areas of this university.
(A former Director of Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneswar, Prof. Dash has also headed various research institutes under Indian Council of Medical Research. He was a consultant to World Health Organization during the global COVID-19 pandemic fight)
