Shimla: Padma Shri recipient and globally recognised rabies expert Dr Omesh Bharti has been nominated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to the oversight committee of the strategic technical advisory group (STAG) working group on monitoring, evaluation and research under its malaria and neglected tropical diseases (NTD) department.Dr Bharti was awarded the Padma Shri in 2019 for developing a low-cost rabies prevention protocol, later adopted by the WHO, and is currently involved in snakebite research. As per the WHO malaria and NTD department’s communiqué, Dr Bharti has been included as an independent expert on neglected zoonotic diseases in the 18-member committee tasked with conducting a midterm evaluation of the department’s programmes. The evaluation aims to assess progress under the Neglected Tropical Diseases Road Map 2021-2030 and determine whether global targets are on track to be achieved. The oversight committee will provide strategic and technical guidance to ensure the evaluation remains credible, objective and effective in improving programme outcomes. Dr Bharti, currently serving as deputy director with the national health mission in Shimla, is also a member of the national task force and WHO expert panels on rabies and snakebite envenoming. He said India’s representation in the committee will strengthen its voice in shaping global NTD strategies. MSID: 130305049 413 |
