NEW DELHI: From how soldiers acclimatise to thin air at extreme altitudes to how low oxygen levels and harsh winters affect the health of Himalayan communities, a new research centre in Himachal Pradesh will study the distinctive medical challenges of living and working in the mountains.Union health minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on Monday performed the bhumi pujan and laid the foundation stone of the Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) Centre for High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research at Keylong, Himachal Pradesh.Built on an ICMR field station established at Keylong nearly a decade ago, the centre will function as a permanent, year-round institution with specialised personnel and state-of-the-art laboratories. It will generate evidence on the health effects of low oxygen levels, extreme cold and changing climatic conditions, with research spanning both military personnel and civilian populations.The research will focus on altitude-related health risks, acclimatisation, maternal and newborn health, child nutrition and disease patterns in Himalayan communities. It will also explore drone-based medicine delivery, digital health and artificial intelligence to improve healthcare access in remote areas. ICMR will combine its research expertise with AFMS’s field experience, with AIIMS Bilaspur studying the effects of high-altitude conditions on patients visiting the region.Nadda said the centre would help build a strong institutional foundation for research into the health challenges faced by people in the Himalayan region and personnel deployed in high-altitude areas. He stressed the need for systematic studies to identify risks and develop appropriate preventive healthcare interventions.
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Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja, Director General of the Armed Forces Medical Services, said the research would help develop protocols for acclimatisation, early detection and treatment of altitude-related illnesses. ICMR director general Rajiv Bahl said the centre would involve local communities in research aimed at improving health. The findings are expected to benefit Himalayan and border regions. Defence minister of state Sanjay Seth, Jai Ram Thakur and Kangana Ranaut attended the event. Nadda also inaugurated a student science exhibition and launched the centre’s website and video, besides releasing a commemorative postal cover.
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