DIMAPUR: In a significant initiative to strengthen community health and professional social work education in Nagaland, the North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research (NEISSR) formally launched its collaboration with Vitamin Angels through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at a programme held at the Institute’s BAM Hall on August 1.
The partnership will provide community health fieldwork and practical learning opportunities for Master of Social Work (MSW) students while supporting evidence-based public health initiatives in Dimapur, Niuland and Chümoukedima districts.
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, State Program Officer for RMNCAH+N, National Health Mission (NHM) Nagaland, Dr. Khelito Zhimomi, lauded the collaboration as a timely partnership that bridges higher education and public health. She noted that improving community health requires strong institutional partnerships and appreciated the initiative for preparing future social work professionals through direct engagement with communities. She further observed that the collaboration complements the State’s ongoing efforts to improve maternal and child health and strengthen community-based health services.
The programme was also graced by special invitees Block Programme Manager (BPM), NHM Chümoukedima, Senti Jamir; director ProRural NGO, Paul Lokho; project coordinator ProRural, Imliakum Imsong; and project coordinator ProRural Tolivi N Sumi.
Speaking on the occasion, Principal NEISSR, Dr. Fr. C. P. Anto, said that the partnership reflects the Institute’s commitment to producing socially responsible professionals through experiential learning. He emphasized that social work education must go beyond classroom instruction, enabling students to integrate knowledge, skills and values while serving vulnerable communities. He added that the collaboration represents NEISSR’s vision of fostering academic excellence through meaningful partnerships that contribute to sustainable community development. Established as Nagaland’s pioneering institute dedicated to professional social work education, NEISSR continues to strengthen its engagement with government agencies, civil society organizations and international partners in addressing contemporary social and developmental challenges.
Representing Vitamin Angels in Nagaland, State Project Manager, Alice Kamei, shared that the organization is committed to working alongside the National Health Mission (NHM) Nagaland, academic institutions and local communities to improve maternal and child nutrition. The representative highlighted that engaging social work students in community-based public health programmes will nurture a new generation of professionals equipped to respond to complex health and social challenges through evidence-informed practice in the state and the region.
Vitamin Angels, a globally recognized US-based non-profit organization working in more than 65 countries, has maintained a sustained presence in Nagaland since 2011. Through its partnership with the National Health Mission (NHM) Nagaland, and local organizations, it has supported initiatives aimed at strengthening maternal and child nutrition, including evidence-based interventions to improve vitamin A supplementation coverage among children in the state.
As part of the collaboration, four students from the Master of Social Work (MSW) programme will undertake their fieldwork internship in Mission 9 by 5, a joint initiative of NHM Nagaland and Vitamin Angels to improve vitamin A coverage, which is being piloted across Dimapur, Niuland and Chümoukedima districts. The internship is designed to bridge academic learning with professional social work practice while enabling students to contribute meaningfully to community health programmes.
The programme concluded with a formal vote of thanks by assistant professor NEISSR, Sebastian Kamsuan, who expressed hope that the partnership would open meaningful field-based learning opportunities for MSW students and strengthen the working ties between NEISSR, Vitamin Angels and the National Health Mission Nagaland. NEISSR and Vitamin Angels reaffirmed a shared commitment to promoting human dignity, social justice, community well-being and sustainable development through collaborative action, professional education and community-centred public health initiatives. The programme was chaired by Atheli G Awomi from MSW and concluded with a formal vote of thanks by assistant professor NEISSR, Sebastian Kamsuan, who expressed hope that the partnership would open meaningful field-based learning opportunities for MSW students and strengthen the working ties between NEISSR, Vitamin Angels and the NHM Nagaland.