Port Blair, Dec. 29: Dr Bharati P. Pawar, Hon’ble Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare visited RMRC-ICMR, Port Blair today. Dr P. Vijayachari, Director, RMRC, Port Blair briefed the Minister about the functioning of the institution in the presence of all scientists and representative from DHS.

During the interaction, Hon’ble MoS was also briefed about the background and achievements of RMRC, Port Blair. She was informed that RMRC, Port Blair is the WHO Collaborative Laboratory for Leptospirosis and the lone laboratory for SEAR. She was also informed about the reduction of malaria cases in Southern group of Islands due to continuous efforts of RMRC along with the support of DHS, ANTRI, Directorate of Tribal Welfare, A&N Administration.

The elimination of Filariasis from Nicobar District is the key achievement of RMRC, Port Blair using novel strategy Double Fortified Salt (DEC and Iodine) as supplement to ongoing MDA. Research on tribal health is the highest priority of RMRC, Port Blair and various research programmes are being carried out on this tribal community from time to time with special reference to health and the nutritional status of the PVTGs.

Later, Hon’ble Minister inaugurated the Genomic Sequencing Laboratory at RMRC, Port Blair, paving the way for gene sequencing of COVID-19 along with other viruses at the local level in near future after getting registered with the DBT. Presently, all the gene sequencing samples are being sent to NIV, Pune which takes much longer time for obtaining result. She also visited the BSL 3, leptospirosis and various laboratories and appreciated the efforts made by the Centre. She also inaugurated the Immunology Laboratory in the same campus.

Hon’ble Minister expressed satisfaction over the functioning of the RMRC, Port Blair and also appreciated the achievements of the organization.