 CMC opens centre for infectious diseases
Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, has become the first hospital in the country to open an Infectious Diseases Training and Research Centre (IDTRC), in collaboration with the Centre for Tropical Diseases, Haukeland University, and Bergen, Norway. Jon Westborg, the Ambassador of Norway, inaugurated the training
centre.
Speaking at the inaugural, Jon Westborg said, "This collaboration is part of the efforts at strengthening the political, economic and cultural ties between Norway and India, especially in the area of transfer of technology between the two countries."
"The centre would be the first in the whole of South Asia, which will conduct research and train personnel in prevention of hospital-associated infection especially in intensive care units, control of vector-borne diseases such as dengue fever, all of which are prevalent in tropical India. The knowledge repository and dedicated service of CMC, Vellore, should be utilised by the world at large through this centre," added
Westborg.
Prof Dilip Mathai, Department of Medicine, CMC, co-ordinator of the centre for training on infectious diseases, said, "The opening of the IDTRC is an important milestone for CMC. The hospital provides counselling and treatment to around 2,300 patients every year. The number of deaths due to HIV/AIDS, which was 0.7 million in 1993, had increased to 2.8 million in 2002. The Haukeland University of Norway would provide financial assistance of $ 80,000 to set up the
centre."
Dr George Chandy, Director of the CMC, said the collaboration would go a long way to serve the people of the country as it would help efforts in prevention and control of AIDS/HIV and training the people.
BMPLII, (Benjamin M. Pulimood Laboratories for Infection and Immunity) dedicated to Prof Benjamin Pulimood, former director of the CMC, who did pioneering work in infectious diseases, and IDTRC are being established with the objective of developing indigenous methods in treating infectious diseases, and to foster national and international cooperation in this area.
CMC principal, Dr Jayaprakash Puliyil, CMC medical superintendent, Dr Nihal Thomas, Dr Dilip Mathai, head of the department of the General Medicine of CMC, and Dr Benjamin Pulimood, were among others who spoke at the function.
Earlier, addressing a press conference, Dr Mathai said the CMC admitted nearly 500 HIV/AIDS patients every year and the cost of treatment could be subsidised. "The Tamil Nadu government too supports us in this venture," he added.
The Norway ambassador said India and Norway were already cooperating in political, economic, environment fields and now in the area of research and institutional cooperation. "We are planning for nearly 4,000 mandays from the IT sector in India, especially in Bangalore," he said, adding that this type of cooperation would benefit both the countries.
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