Kohima, May 23 (MExN): A meeting of Indian Public Health Association, Nagaland Branch was held in the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Nagaland on May 20 where the members of the Indian Public Health Association Nagaland Branch had an academic session followed by business session.
IPHA Nagaland Branch General Sectary Dr Zathung in a press release stated that in the academic session, Dr Aonungdok presented an original research article on the topic ‘Prevalence of Non Communicable Disease risk factor in the Tribal population in Mokokchung District, Nagaland dt 2015’ and Dr K. Sophie also presented an original research article on the topic, ‘Temperature Monitoring of Vaccine Cold Chain in Nagaland, dt 2014.’
Dr Aonungdok’s research shows high prevalence of non communicable disease risk factors in Mokokchung district. There is high burden of behavioral risk factor such as tobacco use, alcohol use, and low fruits and vegetable intake and high prevalence of undetected hypertension (high blood pressure) which requires immediate intervention. It was also found that high awareness only does not lead to behavioral changes. Further treatment seeking rate for hypertension were observed to be low.
Dr K. Sophie’s research work shows the need for vaccine cold chain to be improved by way of comprehensive assessment of vaccine cold chain infrastructure and logistics. He has also done pioneering works in putting up proposals for the formation of Disease Control Centre in Nagaland and has also put up proposal for upgrading the health statistical wing into State Bureau of Health Intelligence with the available manpower.
The IPHA Nagaland Branch stated that public health in Nagaland cannot improve without upgrading these basic needs with the available Public health post graduates and hopes that Government will look into these areas.
It also informed that pioneering research work in public health done by Dr Aonungdok and Dr K. Sophie is being used as reference materials.
“We encourage the other public health post graduates to come forward with more original research works done in Nagaland in the near future because only locally done research works can improve Nagaland,” IPHA Nagaland Branch added. It also requests the Masters of Veterinary public health from Veterinary Department and Masters of Sanitation Engineering from PHE Department to contribute articles in the local dailies on public health for the welfare of the people of Nagaland. Without proper public health plan designed collectively by post graduates from Medical Public health, Veterinary Public health and Engineering Public health there cannot be a healthy smart city or town or village.
Contact person of Indian public Health Association Nagaland Branch regarding Scientific paper presentations and press releases is Dr Sao Tunyi, Directorate of Health & FW, Kohima.
Another session of the Indian Public Health Association, Nagaland Branch is scheduled on June 9 starting at 2:00 pm in the Directorate of Health & FW Kohima. In-service post graduates in public health who could not attend this session are requested to attend the coming session and book time for scientific paper presentation for future sessions and secondly for conducting election of new office bearers of IPHA Nagaland branch. 
