A seven-member delegation from Kagawa University, Japan, accompanied by senior officials from the JICA India Office during the intensive visit to Kohima from January 29 to 31.
Kohima, January 31 (MExN): A delegation from Kagawa University in Japan has proposed a series of collaborative initiatives with Nagaland’s health and academic institutions, focusing on tackling non-communicable diseases (NCDs), cancer and improving remote healthcare, following a three-day visit to Kohima starting from January 29.
The seven-member team, accompanied by senior officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) India Office, concluded after meetings with state health authorities and site inspections.
A key outcome of the meetings, held at the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, was the identification of shared health challenges, particularly the rising burden of NCDs and cancer, common to both Japan and Nagaland. Both sides agreed to explore collaboration in cancer treatment and prevention protocols, stated a press release.
Professor Wada Kenji, leading the delegation, presented Japan’s technological solutions for remote care as a potential model for Nagaland’s hilly terrain. He highlighted the “K-MIX R” Electronic Health Information System and iCTG technology, used to serve Japan’s remote islands, for possible adaptation.
The discussions also opened avenues for cooperation in clinical engineering and hospital management to enhance the efficiency of secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities in Nagaland.
During visits to Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMSR), Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK), and an urban primary health centre, the team engaged with local medical professionals to understand ground-level challenges.
Academic collaboration formed another pillar of the proposed partnership. At Science College Kohima, the delegation discussed “human-to-human” knowledge exchange and potential research synergies. Professor Kenji outlined possibilities for joint innovative research leveraging Kagawa University’s expertise in Rare Sugar research and Telemedicine, which could benefit from Nagaland’s unique biodiversity.
The visit concluded with a presentation on Kagawa University’s structure, notably its expansive medical faculty. Of particular note was the expansive medical faculty, which encompasses the Schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Clinical Psychology, the release stated. This introduction set the stage for potential faculty and student exchange programmes between Kohima and Kagawa’s four main campuses, it added.
