Nagaland Health department holds a three-day vaccine preventable disease surveillance transition training in Kohima with NCDC and WHO.
DIMAPUR — The Department of Health and Family Welfare inaugurated a three-day state-level Vaccine Preventable Disease (VPD) Surveillance Transition Training at Hotel Vivor in Kohima on Wednesday.
Organised in collaboration with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) India, with support from the state Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) division, the training runs until September 25.
According to an update, it brings together district immunisation and surveillance officers, data managers, and data entry operators to strengthen VPD surveillance and facilitate its integration with the IDSP.
Addressing the inaugural session, Dr. Keveduyi Theyo, Principal Director of Health and Family Welfare, highlighted the transition as an important step towards strengthening government-owned disease surveillance and building a unified system. He stressed that established standards, including timely reporting, quality data, specimen collection, and laboratory linkages, must be maintained.
“The integration of VPD surveillance into the IDSP-NCDC network is a visionary step toward a unified, ‘One India, One Surveillance’ architecture,” Dr. Theyo said.
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Delivering the keynote address, Kevileno Angami, Commissioner and Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, stated that immunisation and surveillance must work together to ensure early detection, investigation, and response to vaccine-preventable diseases. She also underlined the importance of timely, complete, and accurate surveillance data.
“We should strengthen the connection between VPD surveillance, immunisation services, laboratory systems and outbreak response. This approach transforms surveillance from a reporting exercise into a public health action system," she stated.
The welcome address and opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Nyanthung Kikon, State Immunisation Officer of IDSP, followed by an overview of VPD surveillance and the transition process by Dr. Imkongtemsu Longchar, State Immunisation Officer of the Universal Immunisation Programme.