Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory Inaugurated

Tarun Karthick

Port Blair, 13 April 2023

Chief Secretary, A & N Administration, Mr. Keshav Chandra, IAS on twelfth April 2023, inaugurated the Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) established by  ANIIMS , Port Blair with  the  assist of  the Ministry of Health Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India at GB Pant Hospital/ANIIMS. 

The Commissioner-cum- Secretary (Health), Mr. Nikhil Kumar, IAS, Secretary (Health), Mr. Arjun Sharma, IAS, OSD (ANIIMS), Dr. Anil Aggarwal, Director (ANIIMS), Dr. Pragya Sharma, Director (Health Services), Dr. Munni Singhania,  Senior Doctors and school of GB Pant Hospital/ ANIIMS, Director (ICMR), Dr. Vijayachari had been current on the event.

Speaking on the event, the Chief Secretary congratulated the Health workforce for making this facility out there right here within the Islands. This lab is essential, he remarked and urged the school, docs to proceed to attempt for newer and modern options in offering higher well being services/ companies to the Island inhabitants. He stated, with the inauguration of this Lab, any viral outbreak can now be detected right here itself within the Islands, thereby present fast response to any such outbreaks. This Lab can even profit the school of ANIIMS, medical college students to hold out analysis in virology, he stated. He additionally directed the involved officers to determine and be sure that the required infrastructure is put into place on the earliest for the sleek functioning of the lab.

The Chief Secretary was briefed concerning the features, procedures and advantages of the Lab by Dr. Ruby Thomas, HoD Microbiology, Nodal Officer, VRDL below ANIIMS (BSL-2), Dr. Shahina. M, Sr. Microbiologist.

The VRDL is a  Bio Safety Level (BSL) 2 Lab which is part of the nationwide community of Labs arrange on the degree of Medical College in strengthening the infrastructures for well timed analysis of viral epidemics and steady monitoring of the prevailing in addition to new viral strains. The VRDL is positioned on the first Floor of the OPD Complex of the GB Pant Hospital, behind ANIIMS Auditorium.