All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal here on Sunday inaugurated the level 3 biosafety laboratory (BSL-3) for TB and viral infections.
This facility becomes first in central India and in this laboratory the scientists can handle all microorganisms which are labelled risk group 3 such as live HIV, SARS, Influenza, and Zika virus, Plague bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (all forms including MDR and XDR-TB), to name a few. The facility was dedicated to the AIIMS by Prof Balram Bhargava, Secretary, Department of Health Research and Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research, Government of India.
This facility was funded by the Department of Health Research, Government of India with a total cost of 5 crore. Prof Bargava said that a dozen BSL-3 are present in the country and this facility inaugurated today at AIIMS, Bhopal is the first BSL-3 Lab in all the AIIMS of India. He elaborated that this service will cater for TB and other viral infections to include Zika virus, HIV, SARS etc. in the very heart of the country, Bhopal.
The Director & CEO, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhopal - Dr Sarman Singh said that this facility will be a resource for the whole region of central India and AIIMS Bhopal will be able to handle outbreaks of such infectious diseases in the region and other parts of the country, if needed. While celebrating the world TB day, the AIIMS started the day with 5.7 km “Run for TB” early in the morning, in which 200 students and other volunteers took part.
Speaking on the occasion of inauguration, of TB symposium, Chief Guest of the function, the DG-ICMR, Dr Balram Bhargava, highlighted that during the past 70 years after independence, India has not only done phenomenally well in mobile & IT, green revolution and white revolution but also in health care and pharma industries. He said that we are lacking in emergency medicine and in universal health coverage.
He requested that the young generation today should focus on these two frontiers and should do dedicated services for this. He further emphasised about the 198 countries have signed the agreement that they will eradicate tuberculosis by 2030 and Prime Minister have targeted it to be achieved by 2025 which is an ambitious role the percentage of decrease of prevalence of tuberculosis is 1.5 % per year and we need to be at least 5% per year to meet that target of 2030.
Dr Arneet Arora, Dean (Academics) presented an overview on TB Symposium to include the challenges of TB, the implications TB has on the society etc. The Medical Superintendent, Dr Manisha Srivastava elaborated on TB Care at AIIMS, Bhopal and highlighted the excellent services set-up by AIIMS, Bhopal for the tuberculosis in Bhopal.
Dr Shashank Purwar, the organising secretary and Acting Head, Department of Microbiology gave vote of thank.
