New Delhi, June 25: The Ministry of Civil Aviation, in collaboration with Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), launched ‘Air Suvidha 2.0’ on Thursday. This advanced, contactless passenger health self-declaration portal aims to strengthen public health monitoring at international airports.
This initiative comes in response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak.
According to officials, the new platform was introduced following the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring the Ebola/Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17.
The announcement was made under the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005.
Officials confirmed that the current outbreak has been identified as Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD).
The latest WHO assessment indicates that neighboring countries, such as South Sudan, are also at high risk of infection spread from the DRC and Uganda.
Developed in collaboration with the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, this portal requires international travelers arriving in India to fill out a mandatory online health self-declaration form.
Travelers must provide details of their travel over the past 21 days, any potential contacts or exposures, and information on any symptoms they may have. This process must be completed before immigration clearance.
‘Air Suvidha 2.0’ is designed to offer a convenient and hassle-free experience for travelers while ensuring effective health monitoring.
According to officials, the system will share traveler information in real-time with multiple agencies, including airport health officers, the Bureau of Immigration, the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP), and state surveillance officers.
The government states that this integrated data-sharing system will help quickly identify travelers who may be at risk of infection.
It will enable timely monitoring, referrals, and other public health measures when necessary.
Additionally, the entire process will be contactless, eliminating the need for travelers to fill out paper forms at the airport.
Officials noted that the self-declaration form can be completed up to 24 hours before arriving in India.
International travelers are advised to fill out this form before boarding their flights, especially during web check-in, to expedite their arrival process in India.
After completing the form, travelers only need to present the downloaded self-declaration form at the international travel health desk or immigration counter.
This will reduce delays in the arrival process and enhance convenience for travelers.
Officials urged all international travelers to fill out the self-declaration form accurately and on time, keeping their health and public safety in mind.
They emphasized that this system will play a crucial role in ensuring traveler safety and preventing potential health risks.
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