JAMMU, OCTOBER 25: A one-day training program was organized today by the State Surveillance Unit of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP), under the aegis of the Directorate of Health Services Jammu, here at Gandhinagar Hospital .
The training was specifically designed for Medical Officers and doctors from Medical Colleges, with the objective of enhancing disease surveillance and improving the accuracy and timeliness of disease reporting across the IDSP network. Through this initiative, the Directorate of Health Services Jammu sought to strengthen the state’s capacity to monitor and respond to public health challenges effectively.
The training was inaugurated by Director Health Services Jammu, Dr. Rakesh Magotra.
In his inaugural address, Dr. Magotra underscored the critical role of real-time disease surveillance in improving public health outcomes. He commended the IDSP team for their persistent efforts to bolster disease monitoring systems, particularly at the grassroots level, where timely detection and reporting are essential for effective response and containment.
Medical Superintendent of Gandhinagar Hospital, Dr. Abdul Hamid Zargar addressed the participants, stressing the relevance and importance of the training in equipping health professionals with vital knowledge and skills. His remarks emphasized how each participant plays an essential role in building a resilient health infrastructure capable of preemptively addressing public health risks.
The welcome address was delivered by Dr. Harjeet Rai, State Surveillance Officer (IDSP) Jammu Division, who outlined the program’s objectives and anticipated outcomes. Dr. Rai emphasized the broader goals of the IDSP and highlighted how this training aligns with the larger mission of public health surveillance. He explained that the training was structured to equip participants—Medical Officers and doctors from Medical Colleges, representing every district in the Jammu Division—with the necessary tools and methodologies for effective disease surveillance and reporting.
The training sessions covered a broad spectrum of topics, beginning with foundational principles of disease surveillance, basic epidemiology, and outbreak investigation. An in-depth overview of laboratory protocols under the IDSP network was provided ensuring participants understood the technical aspects of disease identification and reporting. Notably, a special focus was placed on the recently introduced Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) component under IDSP, which includes a community reporting feature to enable real-time monitoring. This community-driven reporting approach is intended to engage and empower local communities in identifying and reporting potential outbreaks, thereby improving the speed and reach of surveillance efforts.
To ensure practical understanding, participants received hands-on training with the IHIP platform, equipping them with the skills to navigate the system and report cases accurately and promptly. This segment of the training aimed to help participants feel confident in using the platform and to foster a seamless flow of information within the IDSP network.
The program featured a panel of esteemed resource persons: Dr. Bhawna Langer, Associate Professor of Preventive and Social Medicine at Government Medical College, Jammu; Dr. Shehnaz Chowdhary, Medical Officer, Epidemiology; Dr. Prem Lata, Medical Officer, Epidemiology; Dr. Simran Nag, State Epidemiologist, IDSP Jammu and Ajay, State Microbiologist. Each expert provided insights based on their respective fields, delivering in-depth knowledge and sharing experiences that enriched the training.
