HEALTH

Workshop on mycoplasma begins
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 9 — Mycoplasmas, the special bacteria associated with a multitude of diseases in man, animals and plants, are reported to have become one of the important causative agents of respiratory and urinary tract infections during the past too decades.

Speaking at the National conference and workshop of the Indian Association of Mycoplasmologists, speaking at the occasion Prof Meera Sharma, Head, Microbial Medicine, PGI, said that in men these bacteria can cause urethritis and prostortis leading to infertility.

The first day of the academic session included an overview of mycoplasma infections by Prof A. Ayyagari of SGPGI, Lucknow. It was followed by a detailed description of the bug and its diagnosis by Prof Meera Sharma, Dr Pallab Ray and Dr Benu Diwan.

The IAM also honoured Prof S.P. Roy Chaodhary and Prof R.C. Pathak for their lifetime achievements and contributions in the field of mycoplasma research.

Earlier, the workshop was inaugurated by Prof N.K. Ganguly, Director General, IAM Among others who spoke on the occasion were Prof D.N. Garg, president, and Dr Rama Chaudhary, vice-president of IAM.

‘Vaccine for Hepatitis A developed’
By Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 9 — Progress in medical research in country has been remarkable, particularly in structural biology, says Prof N.K.Ganguly, Director-General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Speaking to The Tribune after the inauguration of the national conference and workshop of the Indian Association of Mycoplasmologists at the PGI here today, Prof Ganguly stressed the need for fundamental research to bring about better healthcare in the country.

Asked what were the latest developments in medical research in the country, Prof Ganguly said a new vaccine for Hepatitis A besides two new anti-malarial drugs, artether and Ablaquine, have been given to different pharmaceutical companies. Research and development of these drugs is 100 per cent indigenous. ablaquine is a replacement for piraquine which could not be given to people who were known to suffer haemolysis after intake.

Development of the rotavirus vaccine to prevent diarrhoea in the newborn and very low weight babies at birth is also a more recent product of Indian Research. IMTECH in Chandigarh is working on a cholera vaccine. The project is at the research stage. We are coming out with some major products and new molecules in health care.

Q: Research scholars feel that facilities in PGI are not adequate.

A: Absolutely incorrect. The PGI has some of the best equiped labortaries in the country. The Department of Experimental Medicine here has a central instrumentation cell which is used by the entire institute. The PGI has the best infrastructure and has produced some remarkable world famous scientists.

Q: But is not the braindrain — the movement of scientists to the West itself — proof that there are few job opportunities and inadequate facilities in research institutes.

A: Academically brilliant students must go abroad to work and learn new technologies. It is part of a scientist’s growing up which we as teachers encourage. Some do stay on but most come back with better ideas and newly acquired zeal. But going out itself is an important part of the post-graduate fellowship, very important for the growth of a scientist.

I agree that earlier job opportunities were not adequate. But with the new institutions coming up, opportunities for those who are good are increasing. The PGI itself offers some excellent opportunities for research scholars

Q: What are the future plans of the ICMR?

A: The ICMR has set up a taskforce with a multicentric approach with PGI’s Department of Microbial Medicine, heading it. This will be to find out prevalence of reproductive tract infections and the association of mycoplasmas with it. Some strong markers (blood tests) in the area have already been identified.

We are also launching a Rs 60-crore programme on genome and functional genomic research with the Ministry of Health from February 14. Efforts will be to develop new lead molecules and ensure better surveillance based on genomes. With better pharmacogenics, we can find how a particular drug will act on a disease . The aim is to develop better diagnostic vaccines and solve genetically linked disorders

Q: But can we compete with research in this area as far as Western countries are concerned?

A: We may not be able to compete with them but we can certainly try to overcome some very serious problems, particular only to the developing countries. Infectious and other diseases like rheumatic fever and heart disease, “handi goudu” (prevalent in Karnataka). Western countries will not spend money researching these and neither will they develop new vaccines for these.

Q: Recently there were reports that the BCG vaccine being given to new-borns was not effective?

A: This is not true. The vaccine given to a new-born definitely reduces the severity of the microbacterial infection in children. It also reduces the severity of the infection which they may contract later on. In adults we need a better vaccine for which a worldwide effort is on.

Q: Is chickenpox vaccine as effective as it is claimed?

A: Chickenpox vaccine is good if you can afford to buy it. For the entire country we cannot afford it.

SPORT

Gautam to lead archery team
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 9 — Gautam Kumar will lead the Chandigarh archery team at the 21st Senior National Championship at Amravati from February 10 to 14, according to the President of the Chandigarh Archery Association. The team left for Amravati yesterday.

The team: K.G. Raghunathanan (Swaraj Mazda), Rajwant Singh, Divyanshu Mehta, Gautam Kumar (all GC-42), Preetinder Singh (GC-46), Gaurav Choudhary (DAV-8), Sanket Sharma (DAV-10), N.S. Raju (CBI), Ravinder Pal Singh (GCM-11).

TT tournament

In the 6th Tribune Table Tennis Tournament Rajiv Bajaj b Munish in open singles series. And Munish and Sukhwinder Sodhi b Umesh and Raju in the lucky doubles series to enter in the final.

Other results are: Open singles — Rajiv Bajaj b Munish 21-17,19-21,22-20; Open doubles: Vikas and A.C. Bali b Navtej and Ajay 21-14,21-15; Munish and Sukhwinder Sodhi b Surinder and Arvind 21-10,21-6; Surinder and Arvind b Navtej and Ajay 21-17,21-19; Sunil and Umesh b Navtej and Ajay 21-15,21-11.

ADMINISTRATION

Community centre opened
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 9 — The Adviser to the UT Administrator, Ms Neeru Nanda, today announced that the UT Administration would come up with a service market in the area adjacent to the Sector 46 community centre. She announced this after inaugurating the newly-built community centre.

The area councillor, Mr Gian Chand Gupta, urged the Adviser to develop the vacant area on the other side of the centre as a green belt. He pointed out that the estimated cost of its development was Rs 20 lakh and since the MC was facing a resource crunch, the Administration should do the needful. Ms Nanda assured him that she would look into it.

A four-member committee would be constituted under the area councillor, which would include XEN Public health, XEN Roads and Medical Officer Health. A committee would also be constituted to enroll members. According to the charges fixed by the MC, the lawns of the community centre would be available for Rs 1500 per day, the halls for Rs 1000 per day and both lawn and hall for Rs 2000 per day. A 5 per cent service charge would also be levied.

The Mayor, Mr Raj Kumar Goyal, presided over the function but the Senior Deputy Mayor, Mr Gurcharan Dass Kala, was absent. Mr Kala, when contacted, said neither had anyone informed him about the function, nor did he get an invitation for the same. 

Second phase of census begins
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 9 — The second phase of first census of the 21st century today formally begun in the Union Territory, Chandigarh with Census Enumerator, Mr Sunil Kumar, knocking on the door of Punjab Raj Bhavan to record the details of first citizen of Punjab and Chandigarh, Lieut-Gen JFR Jacob (retd).

General Jacob said this gigantic operation was of immense national significance in which every single person will be enumerated He said the information gathered by the census operation was of great use to plan socio-economic development of the country.

The Principal Census Officer and the DC, Mr M. Ramshekhar, informed the Governor that the second phase would continue up to February 28. The city has been divided into 1,400 blocks and 1,700 enumerators would go from door-to-door recording comprehensive data of all citizens of the Union Territory, Chandigarh.

The Director Census, Mr Shyam Lal Goel, informed the Governor that 1981 census, the population of the city was recorded as 6.5 lakh and in this census the population is likely to cross 9 lakh.