27 July ; PGI-WHO workshop on “Laboratory training on communicable diseases of outbreak potential” was inaugurated by Prof. Meera Sharma, HOD Deptt. of Medical Microbiology. She stressed the need for rapid detection of prevalent infectious diseases of outbreak potential. She further emphasized the role of district public health labs (DPHLs) in the containment of such outbreaks, thus the need to strengthen these labs by imparting training through hands on workshop. Dr Ritu Chauhan, the expert from WHO India office outlined various steps of rolling out the operational research activity of involving regional reference laboratories like PGI for strengthening the disease surveillance at district level in states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Chandigarh. Dr. Manish Kakkar, public health specialist from PHFI Delhi explained his views that DPHLs have to be an integral part of epidemiological surveillance to ensure the effectiveness of public health action.
Dr. Neelam Taneja, Organizing Secretary of the workshop shared her experience of visiting the selected district health laboratories to assess the infrastructure and functioning of these labs. State surveillance officer from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh shared their experience of organizing surveillance networks in their states. 22 participants that include microbiologists, pathologists and technicians from public health labs in Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Chandigarh will be receiving training in various aspects of microbiological diagnosis. The issues of lab biosafety, waste disposal, personal protective equipment and sample collection for influenza were also extensively discussed.
For more information contact : Dr.Neelam Taneja – 09780232453