Training programme for medical officials from seven districts

Our Correspondent

Kangra, July 30

The Health Department, in collaboration with the ICMR-NIMR, has launched a six-day training programme for medical officials of seven districts to apprise them of the basic aspects of vector-borne diseases, particularly entomology.

In the last two months, the state has witnessed an increase in dengue and a few sporadic cases of Japanese encephalitis.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr Bhanu Avasthi, Principal, Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Kangra, at the Regional Health and Family Welfare Training Centre , at Chheb Kangra. Dr Gurdharshan Gupta, Principal of the centre, welcomed the dignitaries and participants

Dr Ramesh Dhiman, a senior consultant and former scientist, ICMR-NIMR, said the hill state was vulnerable to vector-borne diseases and in view of climate change, dengue and malaria cases were likely to witness an increase.

Dr Awasthi said the training programme would prove to be helpful for this region. He thanked the ICMR- NIMR for supporting the cause.

Dr Gupta said two more training programmes for health supervisors and fieldworkers would be held in the coming months.

He said 17 medical officials from Kangra, Bilaspur, Sirmour, Solan, Mandi, Una and Hamirpur districts would be made aware of the difference in the vector of malaria, dengue and Japanese encephalitis. He said the training programme would provide technical knowledge through lectures by experts, demonstrations of mosquito vectors in laboratory and field visits.