Puducherry: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said India has successfully spearheaded the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. He added that the country has developed a "robust and strong mechanism to counter public health issues".
Speaking at the Jipmer International School of Public Health in Puducherry, he said the direction of the institution to the nation marks an important event. He was inaugurating the International School of Public Health (ISPH). The union minister noted that the school will help India and the world efficiently tackle various global public health issues and challenges.
The Central government had allotted Rs 66 crore for the construction of the school.
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) is constructed with state-of-the-art facilities. Director of JIPMER Rakesh Aggarwal said the school will train scientists to strengthen research in the public health sector.
The school has been running a Master of Public Health, an academic programme since its inception in 2014. JIPMER has so far admitted 175 trainees and 136 of them have successfully completed courses and moved on to reputed organisations.
Mandaviya added that the school will provide the highest level of education in public health, generate sustainable value-based solutions, and strengthen the capacity for services and research in the health sector.
The health minister said the school is to serve the entire world in tandem with the philosophy of Vasudaiva Kudumbakam (the whole world is one family). He urged health administrators, ambassadors, and students to provide services with compassion.
Lt Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and Chief Minister N Rangasamy were also present at the event.
Soundararajan praised the Ayushman Bharath scheme for enabling the poor to get medical care. CM Rangasamy said Jipmer has a good reputation all over the country and its few shortcomings will be soon rectified.