A. Public Health Section
Public Health is defined as “the art and science of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health and efficiency through organized community effort.”
In many States, Public Health is given high priority and even made a separate Directorate. In Mizoram, it occupies a small section with one dealing assistant and a junior level Programme Officer. MHS Cadre Review 2008 recommends the level of Joint Director.
Presently, there is no clear cut streamlining of functions and responsibilities of this section. However, this section previously catered to disaster and epidemic management, research projects, PFA programme, Food and Water safety programmes, zoonotic diseases, non- communicable diseases, Indian System of Medicine & Homeopathy (now known as AYUSH) and all other areas for which there are no specifically designed health programmes and conducting training programmes for various health problems. It can be stated that many health programmes had their origin from this small section. It may be noted that many health problems in Mizoram are not addressed by the existing health programmes.
A few recent and notable achievements/activities/contributions of this section are listed below:-
a. Conducted most outbreak investigations & control activities before the implementation of Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP).
b. Implemented National Surveillance Programme for Communicable Diseases (NSPCD) as pilot in Aizawl District and was responsible for IDSP at its early stage from June, 2003.
c. Prepared policy documents like Mizoram Population Policy & Mizoram Health Policy, 2003.
d. Coordinated and conducted Multi-centric Study on Hepatitis B in Mizoram in 1999
e. Coordinated and completed 3 years ICMR Project on HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse in Mizoram during 2004-06.
f. Coordinated and planned Medical Services for the new Lengpui Airport.
g. Coordinated a multi-department (Health, LAD, PHE & Tourism) Food Survey in Aizawl.
h. Prepared proposal and successfully negotiated NABARD loan of Rs.5.6 Crores for CT Scan at CH(A), building of Sialhawk SHC & 10 sub-centres.
i. Coordinated and implemented Health Department BAFFACOS Project 2004-09
j. Revived PFA Programme and recruited two Food Inspectors, posts of which were vacant for more than 10 years.
k. Initiated sensitization activities for Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC) like SARS(2003), Plague(2004), Avian Influenza(2005)
l. Represented Health Department in State Level Committees on Rodent Control, Bird Flu, Food & Water Safety, etc.
m. Participated as Resource Person in various training programmes on HIV/AIDS, Disease Surveillance, Epidemic Management, Food & Water Safety, Disaster Management, Health Policy, Health & Hospital Administration, Management, Sex Education, Cancer Prevention, Anti-Tobacco campaigns, Avian Flu, Rodent Borne Diseases, Emerging & Re-emerging Diseases, etc.
During 2007-08, the achievement of the Public Health Section may be summarized as follows:-
1. Awareness campaign and training on Avian Influenza was held at all the district capitals and at Hnahlan and Khawzawl PHCs for health staff, media persons and NGOs. Such programme was also organized exclusively for doctors at Civil Hospital, Aizawl.
2. Participated in the Hands-on-Training in Management of Avian Influenza Outbreak organized by EMR, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare during July, 2007.
3. Programme Officer, Public Health was the Nodal Officer in organizing the Regional Table Top Exercise to Review State Plan on Management of Avian Influenza and Pandemic Preparedness for North Eastern States organized by EMR Division (MOHFW), World Health Organization and Government of Mizoram during 29th-31st Oct, 2007.
4. In recognition of the trainings conducted on Avian Influenza by Public Health Section, Programme Officer, Public Health was officially invited in person to attend the International Conference on Avian Influenza in Dec, 2007 at New Delhi as one of the eight Resource Persons representing India.
5. Conducted epidemiological investigation of Malaria Outbreak at Damparengpui and West Phaileng area during April-May, 2007.
6. Conducted Training on Emerging Diseases of Public Health for Government and private doctors on 14thth December, 2007 at Aizawl.
7. Conducted Training on Food and Water Safety and PFA for doctors on 26th Feb,2007 at Aizawl
It can be seen from the above that Public Health Section had major contributions in different areas of health and need to be strengthened by placing a senior Public Health Specialist and supporting doctors, staff and other infrastructure. A separate fund allocation is also recommended so that many of the above activities can be continued and new ones planned.
B. Statistical Section
Health statistics is the backbone of evidence based health policy formulation, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. It is only through statistics that the various health problems of Mizoram will be identified, effective strategies to address these problems appropriately designed, implemented and their effectiveness accurately measured.
Currently, the Statistical Section comprises of 5 Statistical Inspectors deputed from the Economic & Statistical Department of Mizoram. Since health statistics and their analysis and interpretations are very technical and difficult for non-medical persons or the untrained, the section is headed by a Public Health doctor.
This section receives about 20 weekly, monthly, quarterly, biannual, annual and miscellaneous reports from the government and private hospitals, health institutions and reporting units at district and sub district levels Eight of these reports are regularly sent to Government of Mizoram, Planning Department and the Government of India after compilation.
Many reports have been taken over by other concerned sections like MPW report, Post Partum Centre Performance, Maternal Deaths, Poliomyelitis, National Population Policy, etc. and no reports are received on these areas.
During 2007-08, Statistical Section collected, collated, compiled, analyzed, interpreted health data from various sources as presented in this report. Many health indicators viz., morbidity and mortality, utilization of health services, adequacy of various categories of health manpower and other achievements are compiled in simple tables and graphs for ready comparison and easy understanding. It is hoped that health policy makers and administrators make good use of the available information for the improvement of health services in Mizoram.
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