JOIN USAs part of its Global Health initiative, six Master of Public Health (MPH) students from the University of Minnesota, USA, were in Mangaluru and Nitte to attend the second year MPH student exchange programme hosted by the Division of Public Health, K S Hegde Medical Academy, Mangaluru.
The two-week long programme titled 'Tobacco or Health, the balancing game in India' focussed on health system studies related to tobacco control and non-communicable diseases in rural South India. The students were exposed intensively to various components of health care delivery systems from community to tertiary care in Government and private sectors such as sub-centres, primary health centres, and satellite health centres run by Nitte Health Care.
The programme also included exposure to tobacco farms and tendering platforms in Mysuru district, beedi rolling women's households, beedi manufacturing units, points of tobacco products' sale, NCD clinics in government health facilities, tobacco cessation clinics, interactions with health and police officials on NTCP programme and use of Yoga and Naturopathy in Health Promotion.
Vice Chancellor Prof Satheesh Kumar Bhandary awarded certificates of participation and credits to all participants.
Joe Wiesenberger, Chief Administrative Officer from Minnesota School of Public Health was present during the event and appreciated the efforts of Nitte in delivering such a high-quality academic programme. Dr Jagannath P, preceptor of the programme said that the prevailing burden of tobacco-led diseases made this topic a global issue.
Dr Sudeep Kumar, head of Division of Public Health and Coordinator for Exchange Programme said MPH students from Nitte will be visiting the University of Minnesota in the month of May-June every year to attend the summer school at Minneapolis and St Paul in USA.