Background: There is a growing demand of entomologists for effective implementation of global, national and regional programmes for the prevention, control and elimination of vector borne diseases (VBDs). Therefore, the Indian Council of Medical Research [ICMR] has initiated a National Public Health Entomology [NPHE] Programme under which a two-year M.Sc. Public Health Entomology [PHE] Course (Semester Pattern) is being offered at five of its permanent Institutes viz., ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Dibrugarh, ICMR- Regional Medical Research Centre, Gorakhpur; ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tribal Health, Jabalpur, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute in Medical Sciences, Patna and ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry. The Course is affiliated to the Centrally sponsored Pondicherry University.
The Course: This is a unique course in India, designed and developed by ICMR-VCRC, Puducherry to cater to the national as well as global needs. The course is tailored to depict an overview of the ways in which arthropods impact public health, laying greater emphasis on insect vectors and vector-borne diseases prevention and control. One of the main focuses of the course is on vectors of local, regional, national as well as global importance. An epidemiological perspective is emphasized throughout the course. Biology, ecology and application of modern tools in the management of vectors and vector-borne diseases are covered in greater detail. Finally, due attention is given to enabling students to develop practical skills suited to meet the needs of the operational Programme.
Stipend:The candidates selected based on their performance in Open Competition (Category-I) are entitled for a stipend of ₹ 20,000/- per month and the in-service candidates sponsored by the State/Centre Programme (Category-II) for a stipend of ₹ 10,000/- per month.
Coordination:The NPHE Programme is coordinated by the ICMR-VCRC, Puducherry, and all the stipulated norms of the Pondicherry University are being followed uniformly across the other four ICMR designated Institutes/Centres.
Faculty:The Scientific and Technical staff available at the Institutes / Centres are serving as Course Faculty for teaching and conducting practical demonstrations required for this course.
Guest Faculty:Subject Experts are invited as ‘Guest Faculty’ from external sources to bridge the gap wherever the existing staff is inadequate to effectively cover the syllabus, following a stipulated procedure. The Guest Faculty shall be at par with the minimum qualification for Assistant Professors in Universities as per UGC Regulations, 2018. The selected faculty shall be paid an honorarium of ₹ 1,500/- per lecture subject to maximum of ₹ 50,000/- per month. Further, the selected faculties shall be engaged purely on temporary basis for a period of one semester / six months. The services of Guest Faculty will be dispensed with, if found unsatisfactory. Under any circumstances, the faculty shall not claim any right for permanent position.
To become a ‘Guest Faculty:All the interested and eligible persons are requested to fill-in the ‘Faculty Profile’ Proforma, attached here and mail it to “The HRD, ICMR-VCRC, Puducherry [hrd.vcrc@gmail.com]