24/08/2026
Strengthening National Surveillance for Acute Diarrhoeal Diseases
ICMR National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections (ICMR-NIRBI), Kolkata, successfully conducted a three-day Pre-initiation Laboratory Training Programme (19–21 August 2026) under the project "Pan-India Surveillance of Acute Diarrhoeal Disease through the DHR-ICMR IRDL/VRDL Network (PM-ABHIM)."
The workshop brought together scientists and laboratory professionals from participating sentinel centres across India to standardise patient enrolment, specimen collection, laboratory diagnostics, data management, and outbreak investigation. The programme included hands-on training in bacteriology, virology, parasitology, molecular diagnostics, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and digital surveillance tools, laying the foundation for harmonised nationwide surveillance of severe acute diarrhoeal diseases.
The initiative marks an important step towards strengthening India's laboratory network for evidence-based public health action, outbreak preparedness, and infectious disease surveillance.