New Delhi: HL Correspondent
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is developing a network of viral diagnostic and research laboratories to build capacity for handling outbreaks, managing epidemics and natural calamities across the country.
Under the initiatives, ICMR has initiated work for 5 regional, 11 state level and 35 medical college level laboratories.
“These laboratories will be connected to the Asia’s first BSL IV laboratory at National Institute of Virology in Maharashtra to deal with most dangerous lethal infections like hemorrhagic fevers, agents of bio terrorism and several other issues related to the subject,” said Soumya Swaminathan, Secretary at health ministry’s Department of Health Research.
Swaminathan, who is also the Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR), was speaking at the annual press conference of the research institution.
She said that a total of 62 multi-disciplinary research units in different medical colleges have been approved and funds were released to 48 of them with the aim to strengthen health infrastructure at the periphery and create an environment of research in medical colleges.
ICMR, the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of bio medical research, is one of the oldest and largest medical research bodies in the world. The ICMR is funded by the Government through the Department of Health Research and the health ministry.
Earlier the Government had allotted 102.69 acres of land at Genome Valley, Hyderabad, free of cost, to the ICMR for establishment of National Animal Resource Facility (NARF) for Bio-medical Research. It will be the Asia’s first such facility dedicated to the research on animals.
Among several data revealed during the annual press briefing, ICMR also said that studies have stated that rising indoor and outdoor air pollution is emerging as one of the leading causes for chronic deaths and the only reason that has escalated it is the lack of awareness among the people both in the rural and urban areas.
“Over the years we have witnessed completely different situation… while in 1990 the majority of the death were due to Communicable Diseases(CD) today in 2016 over 50 percent of the deaths are due to Non Communicable Diseases (NCD),” said Swaminathan adding that among some of the reasons behind the chronic non communicable diseases are cancers caused by indoor and outdoor air pollution.
According to the medical sciences, poor air quality for pregnant women results in lower birth weight of their child.
Swaminathan on the occasion announced that ICMR has initiated research programme on hyper tension, nutrition and Tuberculosis with a goal to improve the health of tribal and other marginalised communities.
“A vector borne diseases science forum has been set up to research on malaria, filariasis and Japanese Enciphilates. Ambitious public-private partnership for malaria elimination in Jabalpur will be initiated soon,” stated Swaminathan.
ICMR has also planned to start a new triple dug therapy project with National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme to support filariasis elimination.
Stating the overall health condition of the country, Swaminathan said that though the life expectancy of the people have increased over the years, but the quality of life has deteriorated.
Talking on the various technological equipment being prepared by the ICMR to ease the medical system in the country, Swaminathan said the institute has designed a special cooling jacket for persons exposed to hot atmosphere and also a medical kit for diagnosis of chlamydial infections prevalent in women.
Among several other medical equipments that has been designed by the ICMR include diagnostic kit for lung fluke diseases, kits for leptospirisis prevalent in Karnataka, Guajarat, Tamil Nadu and several other states.
