Odisha’s State Surveillance Unit Honoured for Excellence in Public Health Surveillance

Bhubaneswar: The State Surveillance Unit of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP), Odisha, has been recognized for its outstanding contributions to public health surveillance during the 20-year commemorative event of IDSP held in New Delhi. This accolade underscores the dedication and commitment of the team in safeguarding public health across the state.

Dr. Pramila Baral, Additional Director of Public Health, and Dr. Ashok Kumar Paikaray, Joint Director-cum-SSO of IDSP, received the felicitation on behalf of the Odisha Health and Family Welfare Department.

The State Surveillance Unit operates around the clock, particularly during disasters, floods, and cyclones, to ensure prompt detection and response to potential disease outbreaks. The control room functions 24/7, closely monitoring disease trends, analyzing data, and coordinating with district and higher-level health officials for swift action.

The unit has effectively implemented the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) for real-time data entry and surveillance, enabling the identification of disease trends and potential outbreaks. It has successfully detected and investigated numerous outbreaks of vector-borne diseases, foodborne and waterborne illnesses, vaccine-preventable diseases, and diseases of zoonotic origin, preventing their further spread.

In its commitment to timely diagnostics, the unit has established and strengthened 32 District Public Health Laboratories and 30 RTPCR laboratories across Odisha, bolstering the state’s capacity to respond to disease outbreaks.

Regular reviews and analyses of epidemiological and laboratory data are conducted every Tuesday and Thursday, ensuring continuous monitoring of district surveillance units. The unit also organizes training programs for healthcare providers on disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and laboratory practices.

Additionally, the unit collaborates with other state departments, such as Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare, Water Resources, and School and Mass Education, to monitor and control diseases of public health importance.