Faculty and students of NEISSR along with officials of Vitamin Angels during the singing of the MoU in Chümoukedima on August 1. (Photo Courtesy: NEISSR)
Chümoukedima, August 2 (MExN): The North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research (NEISSR) on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vitamin Angels to strengthen community health initiatives and provide practical fieldwork opportunities for Master of Social Work (MSW) students in Nagaland.
The collaboration, launched during a programme at the institute's BAM Hall, will support community health fieldwork, experiential learning and evidence-based public health initiatives in Dimapur, Niuland and Chümoukedima districts.
State Programme Officer, RMNCAH+N, National Health Mission (NHM), Nagaland, Dr Khelito Zhimomi, who attended as the chief guest, described the partnership as a timely initiative linking higher education with public health.
She said improving community health requires strong institutional partnerships and appreciated the collaboration for preparing future social work professionals through direct engagement with communities. The initiative, she added, complements the state's ongoing efforts to improve maternal and child health and strengthen community-based health services.
Among those present were NHM Chümoukedima Block Programme Manager Senti Jamir, ProRural Director Paul Lokho, Project Coordinators Imliakum Imsong and Tolivi N Sumi of ProRural.
NEISSR Principal Dr Fr C P Anto said the partnership reflects the institute's commitment to producing socially responsible professionals through experiential learning.
He said social work education must extend beyond classroom instruction, enabling students to integrate knowledge, skills and values while serving vulnerable communities. The collaboration, he added, is in line with NEISSR's vision of promoting academic excellence through meaningful partnerships that contribute to sustainable community development.
Describing NEISSR as Nagaland's pioneering institute dedicated to professional social work education, he said the institute continues to strengthen collaboration with government agencies, civil society organisations and international partners in addressing contemporary social and developmental challenges.
Representing Vitamin Angels in Nagaland, State Project Manager Alice Kamei said the organisation remains committed to working with NHM Nagaland, academic institutions and local communities to improve maternal and child nutrition.
She said involving social work students in community-based public health programmes would help nurture a new generation of professionals capable of addressing complex health and social challenges through evidence-informed practice.
Vitamin Angels, a US-based non-profit organisation working in more than 65 countries, has been operating in Nagaland since 2011. Through its partnership with NHM Nagaland and local organisations, it has supported maternal and child nutrition initiatives, including evidence-based interventions to improve vitamin A supplementation coverage among children in the state.
Under the collaboration, four MSW students will undertake fieldwork internships under Mission 9 by 5, a joint initiative of NHM Nagaland and Vitamin Angels aimed at improving vitamin A coverage in Dimapur, Niuland and Chümoukedima districts. The internship programme is intended to bridge academic learning with professional social work practice while enabling students to contribute to community health programmes.
The programme was chaired by MSW student Atheli G Awomi and concluded with a vote of thanks by Assistant Professor Sebastian Kamsuan, who expressed hope that the partnership would create meaningful field-based learning opportunities for students and strengthen collaboration among NEISSR, Vitamin Angels and NHM Nagaland.
Both NEISSR and Vitamin Angels reaffirmed their commitment to promoting human dignity, social justice, community well-being and sustainable development through collaborative action, professional education and community-centred public health initiatives.
