IIT Madras organizes an online International Training program in collaboration with AARDO From March 22 to 25, 2022

New Delhi: IIT Madras in collaboration with the African- Asian Rural Development Organization has organized an online International Training Program on ‘The Role of Innovative Primary Healthcare (PHC)’.

AARDO is an intergovernmental organization that promotes African-Asian collaboration and works toward goals such as hunger, illiteracy, and poverty eradication. In addition, the organization is celebrating its 60th anniversary. 

The training program is sponsored by AARDO and is being organized by the Office of Global Engagement of IIT Madras . There will be approximately 150 people from 18 African and Asian Member countries, who will be participating in the event. 

Dr. Manoj Nardeosingh, Secretary-General, AARDO, in the inaugural session on Tuesday, said, “As a result of COVID pandemic, the economies have crippled and the impact is higher in rural areas of Africa and Asia. Science and technology can play a major role in addressing several issues such as poverty, climate change, and hunger. It is important to leverage science and technology to establish an equitable healthcare system to provide inclusive healthcare to everyone, especially for those in rural areas.”

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Objectives of the Training Program 

• The main purpose of this meeting is to discuss the state of PHC in AARDO member nations, with an emphasis on India.
• Discuss the development of primary healthcare capability in India's various settings, particularly in light of the COVID-19 scenario.
• To clarify the public and private sectors' roles in India's PHC.
• Artificial Intelligence's Role in Primary Health Care in India via Health and Wellness Centers
• To study how AARDO member countries could adopt Indian best practices.

In light of this training program Dr. J. Radhakrishnan, IAS, Principal Secretary to Government, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu, said “The pandemic taught the Tamil Nadu government to never compromise on public healthcare. One of the key challenges regarding public healthcare that needs to be addressed is that the healthcare programs need to be flexible. While there is a need for trained manpower to execute the public healthcare programs, around 35 percent of the personnel are on a contractual basis. This is another challenge that needs to be addressed.”

 Dr. Radhakrishnan also added, “Tamil Nadu was the first state to realize the importance of public healthcare. In 1897, the first Sanitary Commissioner was appointed and in 1923 the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine was formed in the State.”

Many dignitaries were present on the occasion and shared their prestigious views on the training program. Dr. T.S. Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Government of Tamil Nadu, said, “Tamil Nadu government has been focusing on digitizing several aspects of public healthcare. The main challenge is that these ideas have to be implemented in accordance with the requirements at the field level.”