Chandigarh: Haryana Energy, Transport and Labour Minister Anil Vij inspected the construction of National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) under construction in Naggal, Ambala Cantonment to review the progress and discussed the ongoing work with CPWD and health department officials, which will play an important role in the investigation and research of various diseases. He said, this centre being built at a cost of Rs 17 crore will benefit patients from seven states including Haryana need not to go Delhi or Pune. The first phase of this centre being constructed on four acres of land is in progress, while the main building will be constructed in the second phase. The scientists at NCDC will do research on identification, control and prevention of infectious diseases helpful in the investigation and prevention of diseases like diarrhoea, typhoid, hepatitis and measles. Vij said, Ambala Cantonment is a suitable place well connected by air, rail and road, and regular samples will be available from the medical institutions here. He stressed that this centre will play an important role in identifying and controlling new diseases.
Land has been acquired for a laboratory where research on diseases will be conducted alongside testing. This facility will help people from Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan, and the western and northern regions of the country. The main building will be built on 4 acres where the CPWD is working on the lab construction as per NCDC guidelines. During his inspection, Anil Vij reviewed the progress and asked officials about the timeline for completing the first phase and subsequent work plans alongwith Civil Surgeon Dr. Rakesh Sahal, Dr. Hitesh Verma, Dr. Sanjeev Aggarwal, Dr. Sanjeev Hari, Naib Tehsildar Sunil Kumar and other officials. Ambala Cantt was selected for NCDC due to its excellent connectivity via air, rail, and road networks. It is also close to Atal Cancer Care Center, Civil Hospital Ambala Cantt, and three medical colleges, ensuring a steady supply of research samples. The NCDC branch will play a key role in detecting, controlling, and preventing infectious diseases like Ebola Virus Disease (2014),Pandemic Influenza A H1N1 (2009-10) and SARS outbreak. It will also help in managing waterborne and airborne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A and E, chickenpox, and measles.
NCDC will have Reception, waiting area, lobby, Conference hall, admin office, Security room, IT/video room on the ground floor. Head of NCDC office & administrative offices, sample collection & utility rooms, waiting rooms and a lobby on first floor, whereas climate change room, macro lab (bacteriology), AMR lab teaching & demo room, AMR officer room, Virology lab, lobby, and other rooms.EOC room, training room, IDSP, epidemiology staff room will be located on second floor. The third Floor will have Non-BSL lab area, BSL-2 lab area, staff common room, open terrace, pantry and other rooms.
