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New National Centre for Disease Control branch in AP will focus on surveillance activities

There is already one NCDC branch in Andhra Pradesh at Rajahmundry, though it only focuses on parasitic diseases.

Published Sep 06, 2022 | 10:44 PM ⚊UpdatedSep 06, 2022 | 10:44 PM

Dr Mansukh Mandaviya virtually lays the foundation stone of a National Centre for Disease Control in Andhra Pradesh. (Supplied)

Union Health Minister of Health Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday, 6 September, laid the foundation stone of a National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) branch near AIIMS, Mangalagiri, in Guntur district.

The new branch will focus on integrated disease surveillance activities, dealing with anti-microbial resistance (AMR), multi-sectoral and entomological investigations.

The NCDC already has a branch in the state at Rajahmundry, but it focuses on parasitic diseases.

“The new branch will provide a boost to public health infrastructure with prompt surveillance, rapid detection and monitoring of diseases, thereby enabling early interventions,” said Mandaviya during the virtual inauguration.

The branch is being established with a 40 percent contribution from the state in the form of land. The Centre will bear all the recurring and non-recurring costs.

The Andhra Pradesh government has earmarked 4.46 acres for the new NCDC. According to the state Health Department, the estimated cost of setting up the branch is ₹15.75 crore.

Mandaviya said COVID-19 has shown us the importance of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases which not only cause localised outbreaks, but can also lead to a pandemic.

NCDC will provide early warning

NCDC branches in the state will support the government in timely disease surveillance and monitoring. These will enable early warning, leading to timely intervention based on evidence gathered from the field, he pointed out.

The minister also inaugurated NCDC branches in Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh.

“There has been a shift from a ‘token’ to a ‘total’ approach, where states are our partners in the spirit of collaborative and cooperative federalism to ensure quality, affordable and accessible healthcare to all,” Mandaviya added.

“The state branches will coordinate with the NCDC headquarters at New Delhi with real-time sharing of data and information, aided by cutting-edge technology. NCDC branches would also be crucial in ensuring timely availability of updated guidelines so that accurate, scientifically-backed information can be disseminated easily,” Mandaviya said.