Nagaland to have national institute for disease control

Dimapur, Dec. 6 (EMN): To set a National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the ministry of health and family welfare, Government of India, and state government on December 5 at Hotel Japfu, Kohima.
The MoU was signed by Lav Agarwal, joint secretary, on behalf of the ministry of health and family welfare, and I Himato Zhimomi, principal secretary of state H&FW, on behalf of the state government in presence of Preeti Sudan, secretary to Government of India, MoH&FW.
Addressing the officials present during the occasion, Preeti Sudan congratulated the DoH&FW for the impressive performance on successful measles rubella vaccination campaign (MRVC). Preeti also assured to take up the requests made by the state in relation to availability of alternate banking services at the grassroots, timely release of funds and facilities required with the ministry as well as with the state policy makers.

A review of various health programmes in the state was held wherein Dr. Vizolie Suokhrie, Director (H), made a presentation on the achievements, gaps and way forward of the department of H&FW in the state.
The programme was chaired by Dr. Vikeyie Losu, principal director, and vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Kevichusa Medikhrü, mission director of National Health Mission, Nagaland.

National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is an institute under the Indian Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, for research in epidemiology and control of communicable diseases.
Preeti Sudan was accompanied by Lav Agarwal; Dr. Ashok Roy, director of RRC-NES; Dr. LA Singh, senior regional director of MoH&FW; Dr. Suchitra, senior consultant (QA), RRC-NES; and Mandar Randive, consultant (policy), GOI.

The delegation from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare called upon the state minister of health & family welfare, S Pangnyu Phom at his official residence.
The visiting officials, while appreciating the performance of various health schemes in the state, shared their concern on the delay in releasing of fund by the state as it is affecting the programme implementations. Preeti has urged the state to expedite operationalisation of the upcoming medical college in Kohima, which would play a crucial role not only in improving delivery of tertiary healthcare service but also help in solving the acute shortage of doctors in the state. Preeti also emphasised on timely submission of utilisation certificates of various sanctions accorded by the ministry.

It was informed that Pangnyu Phom had impressed upon the central officials for review of existing criteria for allocation of resource envelop, enhancement of NHM resource envelop, NITI Aayog ranking and also the need of regional office of MOHFW in Nagaland in view of increasing health schemes and establishment of more central government establishments in Nagaland.