Partnership will integrate satellite data with public health research to improve disease surveillance, outbreak prediction and climate-resilient healthcare planning
Shillong: The Indian Institute of Public Health Shillong (IIPHS) and the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to utilise space technology and geospatial intelligence for strengthening public health research and planning across the Northeast.
The agreement was signed at the IIPHS campus in Dhankheti, Shillong, by NESAC Director Dr S.P. Aggarwal and IIPHS Director Dr Sandra Albert in the presence of faculty members and officials from both institutions.
Under the collaboration, public health data will be integrated with satellite-derived environmental and climatic information to develop advanced geostatistical models for disease surveillance and evidence-based public health planning.
The partnership will focus on mapping disease-risk zones, identifying emerging health hotspots, predicting potential disease outbreaks and assessing the impact of climate change on public health. Officials said the initiative would also strengthen early warning systems and support timely interventions, particularly in remote and difficult-to-access areas of Meghalaya and the wider Northeast.
The collaboration will further promote research based on the One Health approach, recognising the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health.
In addition to improving disease prevention and control, the MoU aims to build institutional capacity, support climate-informed health planning, enhance resource allocation and strengthen the resilience of healthcare systems across the region.
Officials said the partnership is expected to improve public health preparedness and contribute to better health outcomes for communities across Meghalaya and the Northeast.
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