Learn About Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan and Her Role in Planning for the Fight Against COVID-19

October 31, 20203 Minutes
Success Stories

Link Copied!

There are so many inspiring stories of women at the forefront of the fight against COVID 19. Some have taken the initiative independently and while others have used their position in official government positions. One such shining example is female IAS Officer and recently-retired Union Health Secretary, Preeti Sudan. Between June 2019 and July 2020, she served in her post and her time in the position had to deal with the outbreak of the ongoing pandemic. As part of her responsibilities, she led the way when it came to sharing key information with the entire country about the virus when little was known about it and it was just beginning to spread.

Faced with a challenging situation, the ex-Health Secretary shouldered some very important responsibilities and was always leading from the front. Her job was three-pronged. First, she had to create a strategy to tackle the outbreak effectively and in coordination with the Prime Minister's Office to ensure that the unavoidable outbreak of the virus would be contained as effectively as possible while minimizing the damage it would cause across the country. Looking at the number of cases that were reported within the first two months, it was clear that she had successfully dealt with the task at hand. For example, she created the zoning system which helped identify the level of infections within every area in each city. She also created protocols for restricted travel during the early days of the outbreak.

As more and more people joined the fight at the forefront against COVID-19, Preeti Sudan was one of the many inspirational women in India who were more than up for the challenge. She comforted the nation at a time when it was a delicate situation as migrant workers were heading back to their hometown and there was a mass exodus of people from bigger cities. Through regular and effective press briefing, she was not only able to give important and necessary updates to the entire country but also ease the fears of the people. Her calm and confident nature saw her deal with common and frequently asked questions comfortably and with positivity. If that is not the definition of a woman warrior, then what is?

Finally, she used her position to ensure the containment of the outbreak within as small an area as possible within the states. She was continuously in touch with officers in every state who was in charge of dealing with the outbreak and she was very proactive in ensuring that all the departments were executing their tasks in the best way possible. As the Union Health Secretary, she used her powers to oversee the execution of such tasks personally for every state emerging as one of the key women leaders in our country. She acted as the first and most important point of contact for all disease-related queries that were directed at the government by both, the media and the general public.

The former Health Secretary has a very rich educational background. She holds a Master's degree in Economic Philosophy and a doctorate in Economics from the prestigious London School of Economics. Her drive to serve the country saw her rise from the Andhra cadre as one of the early women IAS officers in the country. Her service to the nation saw her serve several positions including Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence and a Special Secretary in the Ministry of Women and Child Development. One of her most recent positions was as a Secretary in the Department of Food and Public Distribution. She was also at the forefront of dealing with the Kerala floods in 2019 and her action drew her high praises from all sections of the government.

The story of former Health Secretary minister Preeti Sudan proves that the will of women in this country can move mountains. If you were inspired by her story, read about more such inspiring women on Glow & Lovely Careers (formerly known as Fair and Lovely Career Foundation) website here.

To explore careers in Healthcare check out the Career Options section of the Glow & Lovely Careers site.

Get Inspired with

Blog and News

Success Stories
April 23, 20201 Minutes

Want a Job as an Air-hostess? Learn to Speak English Confidently with This Free Course!

The idea of flying across the country or the world every other day and even getting paid to do so is fascinating enough to choose a career in this industry. You learn through your experiences, and as an air hostess, you get the opportunity to experience the essence of a new place when you meet new people. You are a part of the exciting stories of different people from across the globe, and with each and every new person you meet and greet, a new tale unfolds, and these stories will always travel with you. Besides, you get a chance to experience many other new things about places and cultures, making this industry truly an exciting one. However, while this job is attractive and exciting, it's not all play and no work. As a member of the cabin crew, also known as an air hostess or flight attendant, you will need to put in a lot of effort, dedication, hard work, and exhibit professionalism to make it to the top. As a flight attendant, your role is extremely important because you are responsible for keeping airplanes, and all the passengers who are on them, healthy and safe. And to do so, it is important to be able to communicate with your passengers. That is why one of the most essential aspects of being an air hostess is having the ability to speak English confidently, the most widely spoken and understood language worldwide. As the quote by Mahatma Gandhi goes, "The English language is so elastic that you can find another word to say the same thing." So, we bring you an online course that will help you learn how to say the right things while you learn English and enter the travel industry.