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WHAT IS IT?
The CENTROMAP is an organization for biomedical research, training and disease control in the field of Tropical and Communicable Diseases.
THE ORGANIZATION'S BACKGROUND AND GENESIS
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Out of the total health problem in the world, the Tropical Diseases were considered to constitute the bulk, mostly prevalent in the tropical developing and underdeveloped countries leading to retarded development and poor economic growth. Many such diseases had either global or locally devastating effect, which includes Malaria, Tuberculosis, Leishmaniasis
(kala-azar), Trypanosomiasis, Filariasis, Schistosomiasis, Leprosy etc.
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In spite of large scale activities, it was observed that we have failed miserably to contain majority of the Tropical Diseases due to our own deficiencies, and are now facing the problem of emergence and re-emergence of such diseases in modified forms which are defying the current control measures. Needless to mention that some of the reasons for failure were of course well within our achievable limit of control.
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Such deficiencies could be listed as:
- non-availability of appropriate health care facility at the periphery
- non-availability of appropriate field based technology for disease control
- delayed and faulty diagnosis leading to erratic treatment and management
- lack of skilled man power
- lack of documentation and communication
- lack of awareness / knowledge about Tropical Diseases leading to ineffective participation
- irrational therapeutic practice and ineffective control strategies.
- inadequate Government infrastructure and control measures
- virtually non-existent technical support from NGOs to Government activities
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In spite of Government's declaration seeking NGO participation in disease control programmes, in practice, effective and complimentary activities from NGO side did never take off.
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Although numerous NGOs have entered the field of communicable disease control program, either alone or in collaboration with the Government, their participation mostly have been restricted to holding public meetings, distributing pamphlets etc. as a non-technical secondary subdued partner. This was vastly due to lack of skilled man power in the field of medical technology and thus has failed to support the Govt. activities appropriately. Such inappropriate and imbalanced partnership of Government and NGOs has led to continuation of the unfulfilled need of technical support for speedy and effective disease control.
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Such ineffective activities has so far led to a huge man power and economic wastage leading to nothing and instead encouraged emergence of complicated forms of the diseases due to delay and erratic nature of disease control measures.
THE CONCEPT
Considering the above mentioned reasons & need, the CENTROMAP was established with the following concept.
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The CENTROMAP was established with the basic idea of functioning as a nodal organization exclusively devoted to research, training (man power development) and containment programme of Tropical and Communicable diseases as a non-Government research organization and was supposed to bring together the NGOs of the region and to impart technical training so that they can play an effective role as successful partners with the Government in the Tropical Diseases control
programme.
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The CENTROMAP was thought to establish a hospital for tropical diseases to provide standardized treatment to the people who suffer.
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In addition, the CENTROMAP shall function as an academic and advisory organization to upgrade the quality of human life and wherever necessary shall work in association with others to implement disease control programmes.
The functional components conceived were as follows:
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Research :
Basic as well as applied field research; Clinical research Drug, vaccine and diagnostic development. Lab. to Field transfer of technology for disease control.
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Training :
Of health personnel (paramedics) engaged particularly with the NGOs.
Health education for the people for better acceptability of control activities.
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Health care
delivery, both indoor as well as outdoor, rural and urban.
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Medical information generation, exchange and dissemination through seminars, conferences and publications.
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Networking
with other organizations, local, National and International.
SPECIALIZED COMMITTEES
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Institutional Ethics Committee
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Scientific Advisory Committee
GEOGRAPHICAL AREA OF OPERATION
Eastern provinces of India, particularly Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Chattisgarh but may be extended to any place with Tropical & Communicable disease prevalence. |
