Training programme on “Public Health in Emergencies” for docs begins

Manipal, March 14: The second batch of the State Level Training Program on “Public Health in Emergencies” for government doctors from the districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Karwar began here on Monday.

The doctors of the first batch held on March 11 and 12 left much wiser in the preparedness for emergencies. The tsunami and earthquake in Japan provided more grist for the sessions held at the admission hall of manipal.edu building here.

The programme is jointly organised by the Department of Public Health, Manipal University, UNICEF, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Udupi and SRM University, Chennai. MV Kamath, Honorary Director, Manipal Institute of Communication inaugurated the second batch's program.

He appealed to the organisers and experts in disaster management in redefining the concept of emergency by expressing concerns over different types of disasters that took place in India time and again. Dr H Vinod Bhat, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Manipal University gave an overview of different types of disasters in India and how socio-economic and political factors influence the relief measures in his presidential address. Every day, there is some kind of emergency taking place in the form of epidemic, communicable diseases and other man-made disasters like Bhopal Gas Tragedy besides natural calamities, he said.