DU to introduce Masters programmme on health, hygiene and sanitation

From a Correspondent

Dibrugarh, Dec 15:  A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Communication for Development (C4D) programme of UNICEF India and Dibrugarh University (DU), under which a new Masters programmme on Health, Hygiene and Sanitation is proposed to be introduced from the coming academic session of July, 2017 at DU.

The detailed draft for the curriculum and the syllabus for the four semester programme was reviewed at a meeting  which was held at the conference hall of DU Guest House on Wednesday, which was attended amongst others by delegates comprising  of the Global Chief of Communication for Development Programme UNICEF Headquarter, New York, USA, Dr. Mario Mosquera Vasquez; the Chief Field Officer of UNICEF, Assam, Dr. Tushar Rane ; C4D Officer , Assam, Vee Singh ; WASH Specialist, UNICEF, Shweta Patik  and other officials from UNICEF office, Dibrugarh.

Addressing the meeting, Vice Chancellor of DU, Prof Alak Kumar Buragohain, while welcoming the visiting delegates from UNICEF, presented a concise outline of the ideas and goals of DU in respect to community development. Prof. Buragohain stressed the dire need of a large number of professiolly trained young people in the country for carrying out activities approved under the Swaach Bharat Mission of the Government of India.

The curriculum and details of the programme syllabus was presented in the meeting by the chairperson of the Centre for Studies in Behavioural Sciences, Prof Neeta Kalita Baruah.

Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Mario Mosquera Vasquez and Dr.Tushar Rane lauded the endeavour of DU in working out a comprehensive academic programme in a subject of enormous impact like health, hygiene and sanitation. Moreover, Dr. Mario in his deliberation assured DU authorities of extending full support for effective conduct of the aforesaid programme.

Dr. Tushar Rane in his speech stated that how for the first time a programme was being launched to provide impetus to the flagship programme of the Government of Assam which emphasized more on social and behavioural changes, especially when dealing with issues like open defecation-free status.  He said that as DU had put all its effort to see that no stone was left unturned as such this programme would indeed go a long way.

A presentation was given by Himangshu Bailung of the Centre for Studies in Geography, DU, on the various activities and plan of action of the university under the Swachh Bharat Mission, with which DU has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, being one of the first universities to get involved with the Swachch Bharat Mission (Gramin) in the country.