The Climate and Health Consortium for Northeast India (CHERISH–NE) was launched at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Guwahati which will act as the Secretariat of the consortium. CHERISH–NE has been set up as a multi-institutional platform to promote research, capacity building, policy engagement, and intersectoral action on climate-sensitive health issues.
The consortium aims to strengthen coordinated research and action on climate change and health across the Northeast region.The consortium will follow the One Health approach, recognising the linkages between human, animal and environmental health, especially in the ecologically fragile and climate-vulnerable Northeast region.
The meeting was chaired by Prof. Ashok Puranik, Executive Director, AIIMS Guwahati, and marked an important step towards building regional collaboration to address public health challenges linked to climate change. Experts and representatives from AIIMS Guwahati, AIIMS Delhi, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (SRIHER), St. John’s Research Institute, National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH), Assam Climate Change Management Society (ACCMS), Assam Science Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC), and the Assam Pollution Control Board (APCB) participated in the meeting.
During the meeting, participants discussed priority research areas, data-sharing mechanisms, joint research initiatives and ways to support existing climate and health programmes at the state and national levels. Emphasis was placed on linking scientific research with public health planning and local adaptation needs.
Addressing the participants, Prof. Ashok Puranik highlighted the importance of collaboration between academic institutions and policy bodies in addressing climate-related health risks. He stated that AIIMS Guwahati is committed to serving as a regional hub for collaborative research and policy dialogue on climate and health.
The launch of CHERISH–NE marks a step towards coordinated regional efforts in climate and health, with the aim of strengthening resilience and protecting the health of communities across Northeast India.
