Dr. Abdalla Siedahmed Osman
Public Health Institute, (PHI), Khartoum, Sudan has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) for strengthening its health system services, particularly in times of disasters. The MoU was signed by Dr. Abdalla Siedahmed Osman, Director, PHI, with Prof. Sivanappan Kumar, Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA), AIT on 16 September 2015.
Dr. Abdalla mentioned that Sudan is a disaster prone country, and it is trying to strengthen its expertise and increase the capacity of its professionals in dealing with such crisis situations. He hoped that the partnership with AIT will help create programs that will match the needs of a developing country like Sudan. Dr. Haitham Bashier Abbas, who was the first doctoral graduate from AIT’s Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management (DPMM) program, mentioned that AIT can take the lead in research projects offered by the Ministry of Health in Sudan.
Dr. Shahad A. M. Osman, Quality Department, also accompanied the PHI delegation.The MoU is aimed at student and faculty exchange programs, joint collaboration in projects and capacity building, training of technical and administrative staff, and exploring the possibility of offering a joint or dual academic program between PHI and AIT.Prof. Kumar thanked the visitors and appreciated the role played by DPMM alumnus Dr. Abbas in facilitating the partnership. Prof. Jayant Kumar Routray, Co Coordinator of DPMM program added that AIT will help PHI in capacity building, training of their faculty members and academic staff, establishing a joint degree program, and it will help PHI emerge as an educational hub in the region. AIT also looks forward to PHI to help expand its network in the region.
In 2010, 31 officials from government of Sudan had participated in a training program on “Public health and Disaster Management” that was supported by the Ministry of Health, Government of Sudan. Prof. Pennung Warnitchai, Co-Coordinator, DPMM program; Dr. Mokbul Morshed Ahmed, School of Environment, Resources and Development; and Dr. Gabrielle Groves Punyaratabandhu, Head, External Relations and Communications Office (ERCO); also participated in the deliberations.
