GHMC Rolls Out Three-Day Action Plan to Curb Diseases in Urban Areas

In a significant step towards safeguarding public health, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has launched a three-day special Joint Induction Training programme to strengthen disease surveillance and enhance the capacity of Metropolitan Surveillance Unit (MSU) staff. The training is being held from February 3 to 5 .

As part of the programme, participants are being trained to monitor major public health challenges, including water-borne diseases such as acute diarrhoeal diseases, cholera and viral hepatitis; mosquito-borne diseases including dengue, chikungunya and malaria; and other potential threats such as food poisoning and zoonotic diseases.

The training is being conducted at the Dr MCR Human Resource Development Institute in Hyderabad and is witnessing participation from MSU personnel from Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Thane , reflecting a multi-city collaborative approach. Inaugurating the programme, GHMC Commissioner R.V. Karnan underlined the critical role played by MSUs in protecting urban public health.

The primary focus of the training is on early detection of disease outbreaks, especially in slum areas, densely populated localities and migrant worker settlements . Participants are being equipped with skills to collect, verify and respond promptly to disease-related information.

The Commissioner also highlighted the progress achieved by Hyderabad’s MSU under the PM-ABHIM scheme , noting that the city now has advanced laboratories and a robust surveillance mechanism. He said the VBD application enables real-time, GIS-based disease monitoring, allowing authorities to quickly identify affected areas and initiate timely interventions.

Officials expressed confidence that the three-day programme would serve as a guiding framework for strengthening inter-city coordination and enhancing preparedness to tackle emerging health threats.