from Divvy Kant Upadhyay
for Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (GA)
Mangalore, Nov 15: One of the pioneers of Medical Microbiology in India, 78-year-old professor CN Nagesha inaugurated the pre-conference Continuing Medical Education (CME) programmes and workshops of the 31st Conference of the Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists (IAMM)-MICROCON 2007 at the TMA Pai International Convention Centre in the city.
Prof CN Nagesha had set up one of the first Medical Microbiology Centers of Karnataka in the Kasturba Medical Collegein tghe city way back in the late 50's. It was he who started one of the first MD-Microbiology post graduate degree programmes of India, that too, in the city at KMC.
A CME on emerging infectious diseases was conducted which emphasized on the emergence of new infections and re-emergence of old infections. Eminent Parasitologist Dr SC Parija from JIPMER, Pondicherry spoke on newer parasitic diseases- tip of the iceberg.
Another CME on newer concepts and perspectives in Clinical Microbiology was conducted. Scientists spoke on issues like autoimmune diseases, nanotechnology and recent advances in different areas of Microbiology. Highlight was the discussion of Ethical issues in research and practice of Microbiology.
A workshop was conducted at the college of Fisheries in the city on molecular techniques in study of Infectious Diseases by Dr Indrani Karunasagar who is also director of the prestigious UNESCO MIRCEN centre for bio-technology in the city.
Johnson and Johnson hospital supplies' division and Dr Parag Randani from Bangalore conducted a detailed workshop on prevention of hospital-based infections which are a serious challenge to the medical community.
It is the first time that a Microbiology congress at the National level is being held in the city. More than 800 delegates have already registered for the 3-day conference which will commence from tomorrow. The organizers from the department of Microbiology at KMC Mangalore are hopeful of the conference bring fruitful for the delegates as a large number of important scientific sessions have been lined up for presentation.
Dr HN Madhavan, president of IAMM and vice-president and director of research at the Sankara Nethralaya at Chennai was present at the inauguration along with the Conference chairman Dr Shrikar Mallya and head of department of Microbiology at KMC, Dr Shalini Shenoy. Dr CV Raghuveer, KMC dean was the chief guest.