Tobacco or Health - The Balancing Game in India - KSHEMA

NITTE awards Certificate of Participation to Public Health students of the University of Minnesota, USA

Six Master of Public Health students from University of Minnesota, USA, were in Mangaluru and Nitte from 01.01.2018 to 12.01.2018 to attend the student exchange program hosted by the Department of Public Health, K S Hegde Medical Academy, Mangaluru as a part of its Global Health Initiative. This two-week long program titled “Tobacco or Health - The Balancing Game in India” has focussed on health system studies related with Tobacco Control and Non-Communicable Diseases in rural South India. The students were exposed intensively to various components of health care delivery systems from community to tertiary care in Government and private sectors such as sub centres, primary health centres, and satellite health centres run by Nitte Health Care.

Programs also included exposure to tobacco farms and tendering platforms in Mysore district, beedi rolling women’s households, beedi manufacturing units, points of tobacco products’ sale, NCD clinics in Government health facilities, Tobacco Cessation Clinics, interactions with health & police officials on NTCP programs, implementation and use of Yoga & Naturopathy in health promotion. The two-week long program was a blend of learning and recreation for the students of Minnesota & NITTE with exposure to diversity from Rural to Urban India.

The program was formally concluded in a reflection program held on Friday, 12th, January 2018 at the University Enclave, Deralakatte, Mangalore. Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Satheesh Kumar Bhandary awarded certificates of participation and credits to all participants. NITTE’s senior officials and academicians were present during the occasion. Mr. Joe Wiesenberger, Chief Administrative Officer from Minnesota School of Public Health was present during the event and appreciated the efforts of Nitte in delivering such high-quality academic programs. Dr. Jagannath P, preceptor of the program said prevailing burden of tobacco led diseases made this topic a global issue and hence this theme chosen, for this winter school.

Dr. Sudeep Kumar, Head, Department of Public Health and Coordinator for the Exchange Program said MPH students from NITTE will be visiting the University of Minnesota in the month of May-June every year, to attend the summer school at Minneapolis and St. Paul in USA. This would be a high weightage benefit for MPH students of NITTE to get exposed to global health program, he added.