Villoo Poonawalla Foundation inks MoU with Public Health Foundation of India
23 July 2023 | News
To establish ‘Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla Centre for Infectious Diseases and Pandemic Preparedness' in Hyderabad
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The Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) and the Villoo Poonawalla Foundation (VPF), an implementing agency of the vaccine maker Serum Institute of India (SII), have joined hands to establish ‘Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla Centre for Infectious Diseases and Pandemic Preparedness'. The Centre will be set up at the Indian Institute of Public Health, Hyderabad. The agreement was signed in the presence of dignitaries from VPF, SII and PHFI, Indian Institute of Public Health.
The Centre will serve as a hub for training and capacity building in infectious disease management and for disseminating knowledge to healthcare professionals and policymakers across the country.
The MoU signing is a follow-up of the discussion that started during the World Economic Forum in May 2022, between Serum Institute of India and Minister K.T. Rama Rao, Minister for Municipal Administration & Urban Development, Industries & Commerce, and Information Technology, Government of Telangana. However, the official announcement came in during a virtual meeting, held on 19th February 2023.
"The opening of this Centre of Excellence marks a significant step forward in our efforts to protect the health and well-being of our community. By centralising our resources and expertise, we can ensure a quick and effective response to any public health emergency", said the Minister.
"This Centre will be focused on training healthcare professionals to add to India's strength of skill building", said Adar Poonawalla, Chief Executive Officer, Serum Institute of India.
