National Conference Organized By Central Molecular Research Laboratory to Mark the World Tuberculosis Day

Dehradun. 24^th March 2018. A One Day National Conference was organized by Central Molecular Research Laboratory, Biochemistry Department, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical & Health Sciences over the topic, "Current Challenges for Tuberculosis Management". The Conference was organized in Collaboration with Uttarakhand Science Education Research Centre (USERC), Dehradun, Deptt. of Science & Technology, Government of Uttarakhand. The Conference was inaugurated jointly by Chief Guest Mr. Arun Dhaundiyal, Guest of Honour Prof. Durgesh Pant, Director, Uttarakhand Science Education & Research Centre, Prof. P.P Dhyani, Vice Chancellor, SGRR University, Prof. Preeti Kothiyal, Pro-Vice Chancellor, SGRR University, Dr. Mohan Singh, Advisor, SGRRIM&HS and Shri Mahant Indiresh Hospital, Prof. (Dr.) Anil Kumar Mehta, Principal, SGRRIM&HS, Dr. Vinay Rai, Medical Superintendent, Shri Mahant Indiresh Hospital, Prof. (Dr.) Nita Garg, Organizing Chairperson of the programme and Dr. Narotam Sharma, Organizing Secretary of the progamme, by lamp lighting. This was followed by Saraswati Vandana.

MOU was exchanged between SGRR University and USERC to work together in the fields of Health & Hygiene, Community Health awareness programs, socioeconomic improvements of the society and other research and development activities. Organizing Secretary Scientist Dr. Narotam Sharma said that this program was organized for creating awareness on Health & Hygiene, diseases due to polluted water and food.Conference was specially designed for school going students of standard 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th of Govt. and private schools residing banks of Rispana river, Bindal bridge and in and around various water bodies in Dehradun. He said that the Conference was organized with various themes which include to discuss the current scenario of tuberculosis, drug resistance tuberculosis and its impact on health and socioeconomic status of Uttarakhand population, to aware school going students of different govt. and private schools of classes 9^th, 10^th, 11^th and 12^th, under ongoing project of Govt. of Uttarakhand, flagship Programs for Health and Hygiene and water borne diseases and Rejuvenation of water bodies in and around Dehradun, to aware the young generation (school going children)with the water borne diseases and the impact of water bodies (like Rispana, Bindal and other small streams) on the health and socioeconomic status of the people residing near to these water bodies. He explained about advancements in the field of Cellular and Molecular diagnostics in the current arena of tuberculosis diagnosis and its relevance to the disease management.A parallel session was organized for clinicians, UG and PG students from Biomedical Sciences.

Dr. Monika Vyas from Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College talked on Drug resistance for tuberculosis and its management. Dr. Jagdish Rawat of Deptt. of T.B. & Chest, Shri Mahant Indiresh Hospital threw light over the current scenario of tuberculosis in Uttarakhand. Prof. (Dr.) Puneet Ohri of Deptt. of Community Medicine, SGRRIM&HS laid emphasis over the strategies and programs of World Health Organization (WHO) to end tuberculosis. Scientific officer from Panacea Biotech Medicine company, Mr. Deepak Sharma demonstrated the Role of Biotechnology in vaccine development for tuberculosis. Molecular diagnosis for tuberculosis was well demonstrated by Dr. Prem Raj Singh, Application Scientist, Qiagen, New Delhi. Dr. Gulshan Kumar Dhingra, Associate Professor, PLMS (Autonomous) College Rishikesh and Dr. Gynander Awasthi from Dolphin (PG) Institute of Biomedical and Natural Sciences were the coordinators for the various technical sessions and the conference. Organizing Chairperson & HOD, Deptt. of Biochemistry, SGRRIM&HS, Prof. (Dr.) Nita Garg told about the various scientific contents and the clinical importance of the Conference.

Dr. Tariq Masood, Associate Professor, Deptt. of Biochemistry explained about the hazards of lead on human life in detail. Dr. Himanki Dabral of Deptt. of Biotechnology explained about the various water borne diseases, their prevention and treatment. Dr. Sumita Sharma, Assistant Professor, SGRRIM&HS. Conference was well attended by more than 300 delegates, which include Senior Doctors, JR, SR, UG and PG students from Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Microbiology disciplines from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Punjab. In the end, School going students were awarded for their poster presentations over the topic Health and Hygiene.