Division of Epidemiology
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Full Mailing Address:
Epidemiology Division,
National Centre for Disease Control,
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Telephone: 1123990205
Head of the Division:
Dr. Arti Bahl
MBBS, MD
Additional Director
Email ID -arti.bahl@gov.in
*Other Officers in the Division
Dr. Tanzin Dikid
MD
Joint Director
Email ID -tanzin.dikid@gov.in
Dr. Meera Dhuria
MD
Joint Director
Email ID- meera.dhuria@gov.in
Dr. Anubhav Srivastava
MD
Deputy Director
Email ID- anubhav.srivastava@nic.in
Dr Suneet Kaur
MD
Deputy Director
Email ID- suneet.kaur@nic.in
Dr Ramesh Chandra
MD
Deputy Director
Email ID- ramesh@ncdc.gov.in
*Pic Not Available*
Dr Raghavendra AH
MD
Assistant Director
Email ID- ragsmmc@gmail.com
*Pic Not Available*
Mr. Harendra Bhagat
Assistant Research Officer
Email ID- harendrabhagatncdc@gmail.com
*Pic Not Available*
Mr. Mahesh Chandra
Assistant Research Officer
Email ID- maheshchandra15132@gmail.com
*Other Staff in the Division
*Pic Not Available*
Mr. Bhagwan Sahai Meena
Laboratory Assistant
Email ID- Bhagwansahaimeena83@gmail.com
*Pic Not Available*
Mr. Nilesh Krishnat Gondhali
Research Assistant
Email ID- Ngncdc121218@gmail.com
*Pic Not Available*
Mr. Surendra Kumar Yadav
Lab. Attendant
Email ID- Surendrayadav.876@gmail.com
*Pic Not Available*
Ms. P. Bhavna
Technician
Email ID- bhavna00489@gmail.com
Units within the Division:
|
Sr No. |
Unit Name |
Officer In-Charge |
|
I) |
Technical Support to State Governments during outbreaks /disasters Coordination of outbreak investigations undertaken by EIS officers |
|
|
II) |
International Health Regulation & Public Health Legislations |
Dr. Meera Dhuria |
|
III) |
Training & Manpower Development |
Dr. Arti Bahl |
|
IV) |
Publication of Newsletter |
Dr. Tanzin Dikid |
|
V) |
Coordination of activities of EIS and related administrative matters Assist the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) Coordinator in matters related to activities of NCDC |
Dr. Tanzin Dikid |
|
VI) |
Development of Technical guidelines: CD Alerts, Modules, Case studies etc |
All faculty |
NCDC Branches under the Division : Alwar, Cunoor & Jagdalpur (details given below)
Broad outline of activities of the Division:
-
Provides technical support to State government for investigation and control of disease outbreaks, rapid health assessment during disasters.
-
Provides assistance to National Focal Point of International Health Regulation and Public Health Legislations
-
Organization and coordination of training courses in Epidemiology to develop trained health manpower. World Health Organization has recognized the division as "Collaborating Centre for Epidemiology and Training" since 1996.
-
Development of NCDC Newsletter and technical materials such as CD Alerts, Modules, Manuals etc. on disease surveillance and outbreak investigation of Epidemic prone Communicable diseases.
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Provides technical support to various National Health Programmes in the form of developing guidelines for control, manpower development, and evaluation of different components / indicators.
-
Collaborating centre for India Epidemic Intelligence Service Program (EIS Program) with CDC, Atlanta
Unit-wise broad activities :
Technical Support to State Governments during outbreaks /disasters:
-
Support surveillance of communicable disease on routine basis and rapid response as and when required during outbreaks or disasters.
-
Involvement and support to the National Health Programme(s): Work in close collaboration between different ministries/departments/ National health programmes and other stakeholders.
(i) International Health Regulations
The Epidemiology division provides assistance to National Focal Point of International Health Regulation. IHR (2005) have come into force on 15th June 2007. Effective implementation of IHR requires establishment/ strengthening of core capacities needed to detect, report and respond to all public health events that may constitute a public health emergency of international concern; close collaboration between different Ministries/Departments at National and State level and other stakeholders; examination of national/ state laws and other related issues. In this regard, the Government of India has designated NCDC, Delhi as ‘National IHR Focal Point’. The Epidemiology division conducts meetings/workshops for stakeholders on various core capacities from time to time. The division also undertakes capacity building of SSOs and RDs on IHR.
(ii) Examination of National Laws on Public Health: The existing ‘Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897’ came into existence in pre-independence period. Considering the changes in the field of public health, an urgent need was felt to repeal the existing ‘Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897’. NCDC has been entrusted the task of revisiting the existing Epidemic Disease Act (1997) in view of recent issues involving diseases viz. bioterrorism, disasters and emerging infectious diseases.
Training & Manpower Development
a) Long-Term courses- Masters in Public Health- Field Epidemiology Programme
A two-year Master of Public Health (Field Epidemiology) course has been started by NCDC in affiliation with Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. It is the flagship training programme of the institute started with a mission to strengthen the technical capabilities & skills of health personnel and develop Public Health Services in the country by training a cadre of Professional Field Epidemiologists. The eligibity criteria for the course is MBBS only.
b) Short-Term courses- FETP & Paramed-FETP
1) Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP) – (3 Month) It is a tailor made programme for medical personnel from countries of South East Asia Region to strengthen the epidemiological skills. The training covers modules on Principles of epidemiology, Introduction to biostatistics, Disease surveillance, Outbreak investigation and response, role of the laboratories in public health, Emerging infectious diseases, Communication and health promotion, International health regulation, Basic computer applications, and Field practice.
(2) Regional Training Programme on Prevention & Control of Communicable Diseases or Paramed FETP- (One month) The division conducts one-month training programme every year for Paramedical workers from the countries of South East Asia Region in prevention and control of communicable diseases. This training programme aims at enhancing epidemiological skills of health workforce in the region for rapid response during communicable diseases outbreaks
Publication of Newsletter:
Epidemiology division brings out a quarterly newsletter reflecting the key activities of NCDC in the past quarter. It has several interesting sections such as the lead story section, outbreak section, monitoring disease trends, research corner, NCDC news, etc. The lead story focuses on a current issue of topical interest. Several interesting emergency responses including outbreaks investigated and rapid assessments in disasters led by NCDC, new initiatives, coordination activities under any division, IHR and GHSA are also covered. Communicable disease trends from various programme such as IDSP, NVBDCP among others are featured in the monitoring disease trends section. The newsletter is widely circulated among the public health and medical fraternity. It is available online on the NCDC website.
The Dt. GHS, MoHFW, GoI has launched an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Programme at National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi in October, 2012 on the lines of the programme of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, USA. This two years programme is designed to train public health professionals with skills in epidemiology necessary for public health action including surveillance, effective and rapid response to any public health event or crisis. This unique programme is being conducted by the NCDC, Delhi in close collaboration with CDC, Atlanta. Currently, India is the only country outside of USA conducting this training.
Epidemiology division coordinates the various technical activities and administrative matters related to this training. Till date two Cohorts (1 & 2) of India EIS have graduated and currently 22 EIS officers are pursuing the training programme (Cohort 3 & 4) at NCDC, Delhi. The division conducts periodic follow up & discussion about performance of EIS officers is done with the mentors and supervisors and also organizes various workshops viz. Surveillance, scientific writing, entomology & zoonosis, leadership & motivation, and induction training. The EIS officers are encouraged to participate in the annual EIS conference both in CDC and at NCDC and also in other international conferences. The State Governments benefit from these EIS trained personnel in responding to public health challenges.
Development of technical material:
The division is also involved in development of technical material like guidelines for outbreak investigations, modules, CD alerts and Case studies from time to time. The CD Alerts on various topics of public health importance are available on the NCDC website.
Services: Support the State RRTs during outbreak investigation and disasters
Training Programmes: Mentioned as above
Publications : in the last three years
Aakash Shrivastava, Padmini Srikantiah, Anil Kumar et al. Outbreaks of Unexplained Neurologic Illness, Muzaffarpur, India., 2013–2014 MMWR, January 30, 2015 / 64(03);49-53.
Tripurari Kumar, Aakash Shrivastava, Anil Kumar et al. Viral Hepatitis Surveillance in India 2011-13. MMWR July 24, 2015 / 64(28);758-762
Dikid T, Narain JP.Mortality and morbidity from diarrhoea in India: An opportunity to overcome the perennial health challenge. Natl Med J India. 2015; 28(4):169-71.
Narain JP, Dikid T, Kumar R. Noncommunicable Disease: Health Burden, Economic Impact and Strategic Priorities. In: Narain JP, Kumar R (eds). Textbook of Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases- The Heath Challenge of 21st Century, 1st edition. New Delhi, Jaypee Medical Publishers, 2015; 1-18.
P Chaudhary, S Basu, A K Dzeyie, S Gulla, S Khade, A Patel, D Phukan, T Dikid, A Kumar, A Shrivastava. Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Mothers regarding Diarrhoeal Illness in Children under Five Years of Age: A Cross Sectional Study in an Urban Slum of Delhi, India. J of Com Dis 2014; 46(3)
T Kumar, D Bhatia, R Kumar, PVM Lakshmi, T Dikid, S Aggarwal , JP Narain Burden and Risk Factors for Deaths in Patients Hospitalized for Influenza A (H1N1), Punjab, India. Researchgate.net. 2014.
Public Health, Evidence-based Policy-making and the Role of Epidemiology. Chauhan LS, Dikid T, Narain JP. Natl Med J India. 2013; 26(4):191-3.
Bhuyan PJ, Kumar A, Jain SK, Dikid T, Bahl A. Study of mortality pattern in Coonoor urban area--a preliminary study.. J Commun Dis. 2013; 45(1-2):73-6.
Emerging and reemerging infections in India: An overview. Dikid T, Jain SK, Sharma A, Kumar A, Narain JP. IJMR 2013; 138: 19-31.
Dikid T, Gupta M, Kaur M, Goel S, Aggarwal A K, Caravotta G. Maternal and perinatal death inquiry and response project implementation review in India. J Obstetrics and Gynecology of India 2013; 63 (2): 101-107. Doi. 10.1007/s13224-012-0264-3.
Dhuria M, Kumar A, Routray D, Bhagat N, Sharma N. Functional Ability, Physical and Mental Health Status of Geriatric Population in an Urban Area of Delhi: A Community Based Cross-Sectional Study. Indian Journal of Gerontology. 2014,Vol 28 (1): 22-36
Grover M, Bhagat N, Sharma N, Dhuria M. Treatment pathways of extrapulmonary patients diagnosed at a tertiary care hospital in Delhi, India. Lung India 2014; 31:16-22.
Meera Dhuria, Nandini Sharma, K.K. Chopra. Universal access to DOTS in Delhi Prisons: Where do we stand? Indian Journal of Tuberculosis (DOI: 10.1016/j.ijtb.2016.01.005), accepted for publication on 6 Jan 2016.
Ananya Ray Laskar, Suri S, Anita S. Acharya. Scrub Typhus Re-emerging Public Health Problem in India. J. Commun.Dis. 2015; 47(3): 19-25.
Ray Laskar A, Acharya, Anita S.Adolescent Immunization. Indian Journal of Medical Specialities . 2013, Vol. 3 Issue 1, p55-62. 8p. 1
