Punjab News: CM Bhagwant Mann Leads MoU Signing with NCDC to Strengthen Disease Prevention

In a significant move to enhance public health infrastructure, the Punjab Health and Family Welfare Department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), New Delhi. Under this agreement, a provincial branch of NCDC will be established at Community Health Centre (CHC) Manawala in Amritsar district.

The MoU signing ceremony took place on Monday at Punjab Bhawan, in the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh. The agreement was officially signed between Principal Secretary (Health) Kumar Rahul and Dr. Amarjeet Kaur, Senior Regional Director, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Enhancing Public Health Preparedness

Sharing details of the initiative, Dr. Balbir Singh highlighted that this agreement aligns with CM Bhagwant Mann’s ‘Health Revolution’ initiative. It aims to provide essential expertise in disease prevention and improve the overall quality of healthcare services in Punjab.

Dr. Singh further emphasized that with the growing population and the increasing spread of infectious diseases, there is an urgent need to strengthen and upgrade the public health infrastructure. He stated, “Our primary goal is to enhance disease surveillance systems, improve diagnostic capabilities, and ensure quick response to emergencies like diarrhea and other infectious outbreaks.”

A Step Towards Future Health Security

Underlining the importance of this collaboration, the Health Minister said that lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic have underscored the necessity of advanced disease monitoring systems. He added that this initiative would help Punjab prepare for future health crises, strengthen integrated disease surveillance, and enhance emergency preparedness for epidemics and disasters.

NCDC’s Support in Logistics and Training

The NCDC will provide logistical support to Punjab, including diagnostic kits, medicines, vaccines, and PPE storage and distribution. Additionally, NCDC will assist in training healthcare professionals, equipping them with the necessary skills to combat public health challenges effectively.

This agreement marks a major milestone in Punjab’s healthcare transformation, making disease prevention efforts more robust and effective. The initiative is expected to play a key role in achieving the vision of ‘Rangla Punjab’—a healthier and more resilient state.

The signing ceremony was attended by Dr. Hitinder Kaur (Director, Health & Family Welfare Department), Dr. Jaswinder (Director, Family Welfare), Dr. Rohini (Deputy Director), and Dr. Manmeet Kaur Chahal (State Program Officer, IDSP), among other officials.