Bhubaneswar: India’s first ever public health university is to be established in the state of Odisha. Reportedly, the state government has approved the grant asked by Asian Institute of Public Health (AIPH), Bhubaneswar, to launch the first ever public health university. The University will be located at Gramadiha village in Jatni tehsil, about 20 km from the state capital.
While informing about the approval, Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra, the Health Secretary of the state, said that public health, as a subject, has great importance for the state as preventive healthcare is the supreme concern, especially because many people were dying from preventable diseases in the state. Also, public health is the art and science of preventing disease through organized efforts and societal interventions.
She further informed that the government has allotted around 17 acre area of land for the proposed university. Besides, the government will soon sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the AIPH for the proposed university, she added. According to sources, once the MoU is signed, the new University Bill for privately-managed state university will be presented before the State Assembly for further procession.
In addition, the higher officials of AIPH said that this to-be launched university would try to create manpower for preventive healthcare and research on public health challenges in the region. Sources also informed that the University will offer master and post doctoral degree, diploma and certificate courses in public health and public heath management. Moreover, all courses will be offered to both medical as well as non-medical professionals.
