Governor highlights JNIMS role in strengthening Manipur’s healthcare at 18th Foundation Day

Governor of Manipur Ajay Kumar Bhalla graced the eighteenth Annual Foundation Day celebration of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences at Imphal today amidst minting of memories of its eighteen complete years of contribution to medical education as well as tertiary healthcare in the State.
Gracing the occasion, the Governor stressed that the Foundation Day was a moment of celebration as well as introspection and said that over the years, JNIMS has grown into one of the premier centers of medical education and advanced healthcare services in Manipur. The institute has played a significant role in strengthening the healthcare system in the State by training skilled medical professionals and providing specialized treatment facilities within Manipur which lessened the need for patients to go elsewhere for treatment, he said. He maintained that medical education necessarily needs to have its foundation embedded in compassion, ethical values and commitment to community service, and asserted that the role of a medical institution goes beyond the precincts of a hospital or classroom into research, innovation, preventive healthcare and public outreach.
The Governor expressed satisfaction over active participation of JNIMS in national and State health programmes, and called for strengthening of research activities by the institute through adoption of modern technology and alignment with national health priorities. He exuded confidence that JNIMS would progress further and achieve greater excellence in the coming years.
As part of the programme, the Governor released the eighteenth Annual Report of the institute and the college magazine, Nongin. He, along with Sumant Singh, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, and Prof. L. Usharani Devi, Director of JNIMS, presented awards to meritorious students.
Speaking on the occasion, Sumant Singh said that through its association with several initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the role of JNIMS has been further strengthened. He referred to establishment of a Multi-Disciplinary Research Unit and region-specific cancer research under the Department of Health Research, Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory network under the Indian Council of Medical Research, State Referral Laboratory for Rabies under the National Rabies Control Programme, and fifty-bedded Critical Care Block under the National Health Mission.
The function was also attended by the faculty members, doctors, nurses, students, and staff of JNIMS, along with other invited guests.