“In a world united by a common goal of advancing public health, we have transcended borders, welcomed diversity, and embraced the power of gamification to impart not just knowledge, but wisdom” said Dr. Sonu Goel Program Director, during the closing ceremony of 23rd International Public HealthManagementDevelopment Program being hosted by Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh. While thanking ITEC, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Government of India for starting such a wonderful programme at PGIMER, Dr. Sonu Goel distributed the certificates and honoured a few participants for various contests held during the program.
Dr. Kritika Upadhyay, the Program Coordinator, said that senior public health professionals from 19 countries—Tanzania, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Honduras, Gambia, Jordan, Cote D’ Ivoire, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, South Sudan, Kenya, Seychelles, Maldives, Ghana and St Lucia — not only learnt tools of planning, monitoring and evaluation of health programs in their country but also shared specific public health challenges in their respective countries. Over 1100 people from 85 countries have built their capacity through similar programmes in the last 7 years in this ‘first of kind’ program in India and many other countries, she said. She continued by saying that such initiatives strengthen international collaborations and are mutually beneficial to countries that share similar public health problems.
During the program, the experts taught the delegates through formal and informal training techniques like group thinking, inciting novice ideas, critical analysis, problem-solving exercises, case studies, and management games were introduced to delegates to Public Health Management through ancient wisdom of the Indian sub-continent. Through ROTTO (Regional Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization), telemedicine and green hospital concept, the delegates were shown PGIMER’s best practices besides a visit to Shimla, where they witnessed the innovation of intradermal rabies vaccine, national tuberculosis elimination program, tobacco-free villages, non-communicable disease program and functioning of HIMCARE state insurance and AYUSHMAN BHARAT national insurance scheme. Additionally, a networking event featuring a cultural night, unique laughter yoga, and bhangra was organized, showcasing the cultural heritage of participating countries.
