Bhubaneswar: To provide world-class quality healthcare in critical areas such as nursing services, maternal and child health, non-communicable disease treatment, nutrition and emergency delivery in Odisha, an MoU was signed on Thursday between Odisha govt and JHPIEGO, an organisation affiliated to Johns Hopkins University.JHPIEGO (Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics) will provide technical healthcare support, policy planning, experience exchange, best-practice implementation, quality enhancement, medical education strengthening, trainer development and digital learning.Health minister Mukesh Mahaling, who was present during the MoU signing, said, “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to strengthening the health systems of Odisha through inclusive and sustainable interventions.”Over the years, he said, Odisha has made significant strides in improving health outcomes in various parameters. “However, we are equally aware that new challenges continue to emerge, requiring innovation, collaboration and continuous learning,” he added.He said this collaboration will further enhance our capacity in critical areas such as human resources for health, maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases, nutrition and emergency preparedness. This MoU is unique in its spirit. It is not driven by financial exchange, he added.The department also signed an MoU with AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Thursday to provide various types of advanced healthcare services for people of Rairangpur in Mayurbhanj district and surrounding areas.Informing about this, Mahaling said that advanced healthcare services will be available at Rairangpur sub-divisional hospital (SDH) with the collaboration of AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Residents of Rairangpur area, along with Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and neighbouring districts, will benefit. AIIMS Bhubaneswar will provide assistance in constructing a new 100-bed hospital at Rairangpur SDH, he added.Along with this, OPD services from various specialist departments as per patient demand, monthly/bi-monthly medical camps, dental treatment camps, eye treatment camps, infectious disease service camps and other such services will be organised. Teleconsultation and treatment, as well as facilitation of smooth patient transfer to AIIMS Bhubaneswar in emergency situations, are among the key components of this MoU.Through this MoU, a major transformation in healthcare services will take place in the concerned region. The MoU was signed by AIIMS executive director Dr Ashutosh Biswas and director of health services Dr Pradeep Guru. Health secretary Aswathy S, along with senior officials and directors of the department, participated in the MoU discussions.
