Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Mar 2: Former vice-chancellor of Manipal University Dr M S Valiathan said that bacteria, once considered to be the foe of the mankind, are turning out to be our friends. There is a need to conduct more researches and come out with more findings about their positive uses, he said.

He was speaking after presiding over the inaugural of the continuing medical education programme on 'Microbial Insights' in Manipal on Sunday March 1 by KMC International Centre's (KMCIC) Clinical Microbiology and Immunology department.

"Bacteria have been put to positive use in B T Cotton. A scientist named Anand Chakravarti has obtained patent for bacteria that live on petrochemicals, which can be put to use during oil spill by oil tankers in oceans. The exercise of feeling happy just by presenting essays will not be of any benefit unless some headway is achieved in ensuring that they benefit the people," he opined.

Adding further, Valiathan said, that the medical fraternity often claims that they have been able to find cure for every disease. However, the diseases are emerging in new forms. We have not been able to rid the society of several diseases. As far as we are able to overpower these diseases, our claims will remain empty rhetoric, he said. The practice of dispensing anti-biotics has come down drastically of late. There is a need to review the entire gamut of treating people with anti-biotics, he felt.

Manipal University pro-chancellor Dr H S Ballal inaugurated the workshop. University registrar Dr H Vinod Bhat, Dr G K Prabhu, KMCIC dean Dr Poornima Baliga etc was present. Organizing secretary of the programme Dr Mamata Ballal delivered introductory address.