Pune gets Metropolitan Surveillance Unit

A three day training programme was held where stakeholders like Airport Authority of India, Food and Drug Administration, National Institute of Virology, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Indian Academy of Paediatrics and several others were informed about the ongoing work at the MSU.

Dr Shubhangi Kulsange, Joint Director, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, National Centre for Disease Control along with Dr Pradip Awate, technical advisor with the World Bank and others were present at the training.

While the MSU will be officially launched at a later date, Dr Vaishali Jadhav, Assistant Health Officer, Pune Municipal Corporation said that the unit has been functional for a month. (Express Photo)

Dr Kulsange said that this programme aims at expanding current IT enabled disease surveillance systems at block, district, regional and national levels with targeted attention to augment surveillance systems in 20 cities through establishment and operation of Metropolitan Surveillance Units (MSUs).

“We will have a dedicated surveillance unit at the municipal corporation level,” the PMC municipal commissioner said and added that inter departmental coordination was crucial for effective response during any future outbreaks.

The commissioner also spoke about the growing threat from climate change and emerging and reemerging infections.

“These units strengthen urban disease surveillance by setting up laboratories and using information technology to monitor disease trends, identify outbreaks early and enable timely public health actions,” he added. Dr Nina Borade, chief medical officer at PMC also shared best practices and stated that MSU would lead to scientific and technical enhancement of urban health services.