Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao performed the auspicious Bhoomi Puja for the construction of the permanent campus of the Indian Institute of Public Health – Hyderabad (IIPH-H), southern regional campus of the Public Health Foundation of India.
Leadership Council chairman N R Narayana Murthy and PHFI President Prof K Srinath Reddy were also present on the occasion. The foundation stone was laid by KCR at a glittering ceremony at the PHFI campus in Rajendranagar here on Tuesday. Other eminent dignitaries present included Transport Minister P Mahender Reddy, Chevella MP Konda Visweswara Reddy, Rajendra Nagar MLA T Prakash Goud , IIPH Advisory Council Chairman Prof. Palle Rama Rao, IIPH Hyderabad Director Prof. G.V.S. Murthy, special invitees, faculty, staff and students of IIPH, Hyderabad.
The Phase I one of the project which comprises of academic and hostel blocks and South Asia Center for Disability Inclusive Development and Research and 200,000 square feet with an initial investment of 60 crores will be ready over the next 24 months.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister expressed his desire to create Bangaru Telangana by ensuring health for all. He invited IIPH Hyderabad to play a key role by providing training in all disciplines of public health and help in skill development of paramedical personnel and health auxiliaries.
In his speech, Narayana Murthy said, “It gives me immense pleasure to be a part of this auspicious beginning for the upcoming permanent campus of IIPH, Hyderabad. This Institute will be a hub for research and training to advance innovations and provide solutions for improving health service delivery. By integrating information technology and public health, especially drawing on the advantages that the world class IT city Hyderabad has to offer, outreach and effectiveness of health care delivery can be greatly enhanced. This will truly benefit society at large.”
Prof Srinath Reddy said, “We are committed to develop the Indian Institute of Public Health – Hyderabad as a globally reputed knowledge centre in public health. We will blend multi- disciplinary learning to create practical pathways for improving the design and delivery of health programmes. IIPH-Hyderabad will assist the States in the Southern region in promoting health and wellbeing as well strengthening health services”
He also added that the upcoming IIPH Hyderabad permanent campus will draw on a number of national and international collaborations in establishing an India relevant but globally connected institution of excellence in education and research.
Prof Murthy, thanked the Government of Telangana for its support by taking keen and active interest in the supporting the establishment of the permanent campus for the Institute. “We will continue to support the State government through capacity building and training programmes at various levels to enhance skills and expertise of health personnel, to enable the development of a skilled public health workforce which will serve the State and the country,” he said.
He added, “We are planning to start a two year Masters in Public Health in June 2015.”
The Indian Institute of Public Health, Hyderabad has been operating from its temporary campus since 2008. The institute offers academic programmes and short term training programmes in various disciplines of public health and also houses the South Asia Centre for Disability Inclusive Development and Research.
The Indian Institutes of Public Health are envisioned as world class public health institutions for responding to public health challenges for the region and the country. Situated in Hyderabad, Gandhinagar, Delhi NCR, Bhubaneswar and Shillong, the institutes function as regional hubs for public health education, training, research and practice. The first permanent campus is coming up at IIPH – Gandhinagar in partnership with the Gujarat Government and will be ready for opening in June 2015. (INN)