Rohtak to have lab to test high-threat pathogens
With a view to combat the public health emergencies promptly and more effectively, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) will establish 10 biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) laboratories across the country. One of these BSL-3 laboratories will be set up in Rohtak.
"These laboratories, being established at strategic locations in different states, will be well-equipped for testing of the high-threat pathogens. The underlying idea behind the exercise is to ensure that the samples are not required to be sent to far-off places for testing in case of a major outbreak in any part of the country," said Dr Simmi Tiwari, Joint Director-cum-Head, Centre for One Health at NCDC.
Dr Tiwari delivered a guest lecture on 'NCDC's Role in One Health: Bridging Human, Animal and Environmental Health' at a research conclave organised by Pt Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences (UHS). She spoke on zoonotic threats and other challenges emerging in the present era.
In the inaugural address, Dr Naveen Sharma, Director, National Institute of Virology, Pune, pointed out that a survey conducted in 1971 had revealed that there were 290 types of viruses, while their number had reached 14,690 by 2023.
In his keynote address on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), Dr Abdul Ghafur, a senior consultant in infectious diseases at Apollo Hospital, Chennai, said an innovative approach was the solution to the complex challenge of AMR.
"The doctors should create medical technology themselves instead of being its users or consumers. They should be at the forefront of innovative practices and become medical entrepreneurs instead of remaining just practitioners," he said.
Addressing the participants, UHS Vice-Chancellor Dr HK Aggarwal exhorted the medical students to do extensive research in the larger interest of the patients.
The organising chairperson, Dr Pushpa Dahiya, said as many as 765 participants registered for the conclave, of whom 240 presented research papers and 40 presented oral papers.
Rohtak PGIMS Director Dr SK Singhal, Dean Dr Kuldeep S Laller, Medical Superintendent Dr Kundan Mittal and other senior faculty members were also present at the event.
