AIIMS Patna Concludes Six-Day Training on Public Health Emergency Management

Patna: AIIMS Patna successfully concluded its six-day intensive training program on the Management of Public Health Emergencies for District Health Officers. The program was organized by the Department of Hospital Administration at AIIMS Patna, under the esteemed guidance of Executive Director Dr. G. K. Pal. It was funded by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare under the Health Sector Disaster Preparedness Programme, as part of a Pan-India effort to enhance healthcare preparedness and crisis management.

The training, which began on September 23, 2024, was inaugurated by Dr. Prem Kumar, Dean of AIIMS Patna, along with the Medical Superintendent, Dr Anup Kumar , Dr. Sujeet Kumar Sinha, Head of Hospital Administration, under the presence of Dr Ramkrishna MondalAssistant Professor, Hospital Administration ,Dr. Mahendra, Assistant Professor, Dr. Haripriya and Dr. Santosh from the CFM Department at AIIMS Patna and other senior officials.

District Health Officers from Bihar, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh participated in the training, which focused on equipping them with the skills necessary to handle public health emergencies, such as pandemics and natural disasters.

On September 27, 2024, the 9th battalion of NDRF, Bihar was also involved in the training. Col. Suneel Kumar Singh and Assistant Col. Santosh led a mock drill on CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) disaster management, offering hands-on training for participants through real-world emergency response scenarios.

The highlight of the workshop was the mock drill, focused on CBRN disaster management, which involved the active participation of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). This simulation provided participants with practical experience in crisis management.

Over the six days, the participants engaged in expert-led discussions, simulations, and case-based learning, covering critical areas such as early detection of health threats, resource coordination, communication strategies during crises, and collaboration with government and non-government agencies.

At the closing ceremony on September 28, 2024, Dr. Anup Kumar, Medical Superintendent, and Dr. Prem Kumar, Dean, AIIMS Patna, presided over the event and distributed participation certificates to all attendees. The ceremony also saw the presence of Dr. Sujeet Kumar Sinha, who lauded the successful execution of the training program.

In closing remarks, Dr. Sujeet Kumar Sinha, the course coordinator and Head, Department of Hospital Administration, noted, “This program shall be conducted on every three months, as the commitment of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) along with AIIMS, Patna to building a resilient healthcare system and safeguarding communities during crises.”

The program concluded with participants being recognized for their enhanced skills and capabilities in managing public health emergencies, marking another step forward in India’s commitment to improving disaster preparedness and healthcare resilience