GoI’s North East Council and UNICEF join hands to strengthen plans and response to public health risks in emergencies as well as in public health emergencies

A two-day regional consultation was kicked-off today by the Government of India’s (GoI) North East Council (NEC) and UNICEF in collaboration with Oxfam India. The objective of the consultation is to deliberate on a Regional Strategy for Public Health Preparedness for Response in the North East (NE).

In his keynote address, Planning Advisor, NEC, Shri Calvin H. Kharshiing said, “We are living in an age of multiplicity of natural disasters and there are unique challenges in the context of the North East for the health sector, including shortage of trained manpower, access to sparsely populated remote and far flung areas, and governance. This consultation is a milestone and I look forward to the discussions and recommendations for NEC to take forward when planning for emergency preparedness of the health sector.” He further added, “The strength of the North-East is its local communities as a lot of work in the times of emergencies is done by them. It will be imperative to include them when planning and programming.”

“Given the projections, the health sector in the NE needs to take multisectoral measures based on forecasts instead of waiting for the actual disasters for reducing and adapting to existing and emerging risks, and be better-abled to respond to impending emergencies,” said Dr Muzzaffar Ahmad, Former Member, NDMA, GoI.

The regional consultation is an effort to promote health sector preparedness for response in the NE states. Under this initiative, NEC and UNICEF in collaboration with Oxfam India will support the NE states to strengthen their plans to prepare for and respond to public health risks in emergencies as well as in public health emergencies.

“There are four non-negotiable components that we need to focus upon, together, as a team. Firstly, preparedness for emergencies, since during normal conditions public health services can be stretched thin. Secondly, quality programming and standards to coordinate and align emergency response efforts in health, child protection, nutrition, communication and water sanitation and hygiene. Thirdly, linking humanitarian response to development. And lastly, coordination and partnerships,” said Dr Madhulika Jonathan, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF.

The technical and thematic sessions during the two-day consultation will be attended by a number of stakeholders from the four states, including Secretaries/MDs of State NHM, Director Health and Family Welfare/Nodal Officer, Disaster Management, Chief Engineer PHED/Nodal Officer, Disaster Management, State Coordinator/Director, SDMA and the Director/Head State Planning Board/Department, and sectoral experts.

The consultation will aim to help build an understanding of the common frameworks applied to disaster preparedness in the public health sector, and on the existing and emerging public health risks in the NE. It will also be an opportunity to throw light on the current initiatives, guidelines, gaps and health needs of the states to undertake preparedness actions (these discussions will be aligned to UNICEF’s Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Actions (CCCs) framework).

“As part of the first phase of the intervention, efforts will be made to develop a regional strategy primarily focusing on Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura and Assam, which will be supplemented through state-level public health sector plans by the respective states. Based on their experiences, the same will be extended to other NE states, and subsequent technical assistance will be provided to implement those plans,” said Shri Pankaj Anand, Oxfam India’s Programme Director.
Backgrounder:
 
The North Eastern Council is the agency for the economic and social development of the North Eastern Region which consists of the eight States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. The North Eastern Council was constituted in 1971 by an Act of Parliament. NEC has been instrumental in setting in motion a new economic endeavour aimed at removing the basic handicaps that stood in the way of normal development of the region and has ushered in an era of new hope in this backward area full of great potentialities. The main objective of the Council is to ensure the balanced and integrated economic development of the North Eastern parts of the country.
 
UNICEF is fully committed to working with the Government of India to ensure that each child born in this vast and complex country gets the best start in life, thrives and develops to his or her full potential. The organization began its work in India in 1949 with three staff members and established an office in Delhi three years later. Currently, it advocates for the rights of India’s children in 16 states. UNICEF’s goal is to advance the rights of children, adolescents and women to survival, growth, development, participation and protection by reducing inequities based on caste, ethnicity, gender, poverty, region or religion. UNICEF utilizes a multi-pronged approach to addressing pressing issues of health, nutrition, sanitation, education and child protection. It aims to involve families and community members in understanding their contribution to ensure their children thrive while providing a platform for young community champions to emerge and inspire. UNICEF uses community level knowledge and quality research to comprehend issues, create and introduce easily implementable innovative interventions that address the situation of children, and works with partners to create ground level change.