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Dimapur, July 31 (EMN): North East Christian University (NECU), Dimapur, has recently attained national and international recognition by being accredited by the National Accreditation Board of Certification Bodies (NABCB) under the provisions of ISO/IEC17024:2012 and the International Accreditation Forum.
An update from quality manager of PrCB TCHP, NECU, Dr. H Salome Kinny stated that the Quality Council of India (QCI) is the highest authority in the country that vets and approves certifications of all standard (from products as in ISI and BIS to hospital under NABH and Laboratories under NABL). As per international prevalence, one can also certify individuals (personnel) for their knowledge and skills.
QCI also conducted a pilot project for five years to work on the feasibility of recognising and certifying traditional healers (Traditional Community Healthcare Providers- TCHP) in six states. Kinny stated that 517 such healthcare providers from Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Tamil Nadu were evaluated and found qualified to be certified. In 2017, QCI invited third party organisations to take up the matter of evaluation and certification since it is the final authority and would not do the evaluation itself to avoid any conflict of interest.
With tradition and biodiversity being strong in the NE, Kinny stated that NECU applied in 2018 to QCI to be considered and recognised as a certification body for personnel in traditional healing (PrCB for TCHP). Through a process of training, inspection, and interaction, he stated that QCI recognised NECU as a PrCB for TCHPs.
He also stated that NECU has QCI trained senior traditional healers (TCHPs) to act as evaluators. He informed that a team of three in a particular domain (common ailments, arthritis, Jaundice, poisonous bites, traditional bone setting and traditional birth attendants) with an Aryuvedic doctor take usually two days to evaluate a TCHP to qualify for certification. All such candidates would have learned their skills and knowledge from traditional lineage and mentoring. According to him, faith healers are not included.
Kinny stated that NECU is the first university in the country to get this recognition. NECU has certified healers in Tripura, Assam and Nagaland and is ready for applicants from Manipur and Meghalaya. He added that all such certified persons’ particulars are on the QCI website. As of now, there are only four QCI recognised PRCBs for TCHPs in the country, Kinny stated.
To get further recognition at the international level, Kinny stated that NECU had applied to the NABCB also within QCI to evaluate NECU PrCB for accreditation under ISO 17024 standards. The exercise was done in February 2020 including observing in the field the Tuensang TCHP evaluation that was being conducted by NECU PrCB. He said NECU was found qualified and NABCB had recently issued its certificate of accreditation to NECU PrCB.
He proclaimed that NECU is the only PrCB for TCHPs to be accredited by NABCB in India. He added that NECU is the only and first in the category of TCHPs even in the world. He, therefore, stated that NECU can now use the international accreditation forum logo on its certificates.
He further mentioned that NECU started its classes only in 2018 but strived to maintain a high standard of staff and teachers.