Shillong, Jul 1: The Indian Institute of Public Health Shillong (IIPHS) and the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC), Department of Space on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work towards enhancing public health research in the North Eastern region
The agreement was signed at the IIPHS campus in Dhanketi here by NESAC Director Dr. S.P. Aggarwal and IIPHS Director Dr. Sandra Albert in the presence of faculty members from both institutes.
The collaboration aims to foster the integration of space technology and geospatial intelligence in public health research, education, and capacity building. One of the primary objectives is to combine public health data with satellite-derived environmental and climatic information.
According to the IIPHS, the collaboration will allow for the development of advanced geo-statistical models to identify disease risk areas and predict potential outbreaks, ultimately enhancing public health preparedness.
The partnership is expected to strengthen early warning systems and support evidence-based public health interventions, particularly in remote and challenging hilly regions.
By integrating space technology into health planning, the MOU aims to enhance the capacity for disease prevention and control, optimise resource allocation, and develop a more resilient health system. Furthermore, these efforts are anticipated to lead to improved health outcomes for the population of Meghalaya and the broader North Eastern region.
