India is Polio-free : Declares WHO

WHO South-East Asia Region, home to a quarter of the world’s population, was certified polio-free on 27th March 2014, by an independent commission under the WHO certification process. This is the fourth of six WHO Regions to be certified, marking an important step towards global polio eradication. With this step, 80% of the world’s population now lives in certified polio-free regions. The region includes,

India and 10 other Asian countries.    Apart from India, the other countries which were given polio-free certificates were Bangladesh, Bhutan, North Korea, Indonesia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste. 

A country is declared polio-free by the WHO, if no case is reported for three consecutive years. India reported the last polio case in January 2011.   An independent panel of 11 experts in public health, epidemiology, virology, clinical medicine and related specialties constituting the Southeast Asia Regional Certification Commission for Polio Eradication met for two days to review evidence from the countries before reaching the decision.

Congratulations to  the team of 2.3 million polio volunteers and 150,000 supervisors worked day and night to reach every child.

 
Before a Region can be certified polio-free, several conditions must be satisfied such as: at least three years of zero confirmed cases due to indigenous wild poliovirus; excellent laboratory-based surveillance for poliovirus; demonstrated capacity to detect, report, and respond to imported cases of poliomyelitis; and assurance of safe containment of polioviruses in laboratories (introduced since 2000).


Certification of the Region comes as countries prepare for the introduction of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) in routine immunization as part of the eventual phasing out of oral polio vaccines (OPV). More than 120 countries currently use only OPV. These countries will introduce a dose of IPV by the end of 2015 as part of their commitment to the global polio endgame plan which aims to ensure a polio-free world by 2018.

Read More at WHO press note

WORLD TB DAY 2014

Each year, WHO observes World TB day on March 24th. This annual event commemorates the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacillus that causes tuberculosis. World TB Day provides the opportunity to raise awareness about TB-related problems and solutions and to support worldwide TB-control efforts.

This year CDC selected the theme "Find TB. Treat TB. Working together to eliminate TB."

The theme is chosen to highlight that TB is still a life-threatening problem in the United States, despite the declining number of TB cases. Anyone can get TB, and our current efforts to find and treat latent TB infection and TB disease are not sufficient. Misdiagnosis of TB still exists and health care professionals often do not "think TB." This year’s World TB Day theme encourages local and state TB programs to reach out to their communities to raise awareness about TB.
 (Source : CDC)

Photogallery of the XVII IAMMAPCON 2014 : Conference

Photogallery of the XVII IAMMAPCON 2014 : held at Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences, Narketpally
(To view CME photos : click here)

Conference Dates : 04-01-2014  & 05-01-2014
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To view the photos on Picasa as downlodable photos : click here

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Photo Gallery of the CME: XVII IAMMAPCON 2014 : KIMS, Narketpally

Photo Gallery of the : XVII IAMMAPCON 2014 : KIMS, Narketpally

Proeconference CME :
Date : 03-01-2014
(this is an autoplay slideshow : you can use the playback controls that appear if the mouse cursor comes over the slideshow)( to view it bigger, click on any photo; it will take you to the album with downloadable photos)


To view the photos on Picasa as downlodable photos : click here

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XVII IAMM AP Chapter : IAMMAPCON 2014

Preconference CME of XVII Annual Conference of IAMM AP Chapter (IAMMAPCON 2014) was held on 3-1-2014. The theme of the CME is : "Immunodiagnostics".

The CME was inaugurated  by Dr. Shruti Mohanty, principal, Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences, Narketpally. Dr. K.Saileela, Professor and Head of Microbiology and Organising Secretary of the Conference, Dr. Rajendra B.Surpum, Professor of Microbiology, KIMS, Narketpally; and Dr. Renuka P. of Chanre Diagnostics and Rheumatology centre, Bangalore participated in the inauguration function.

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The conference was inaugurated on 4-1-2014 by Dr. K.Sambasiva Rao, Retd. Vice-chancellor, Dr. NTR University of Health Scicences. Dr. Kamineni Suryanarayana (CMD of Kamineni Educational Society), Dr. M.V.Ramanamma (Rector,Dr. NTR University of Health Scicences),    Dr. Shruti Mohanty (Principal, KIMS, Narketpally), Dr. P.R.Anuradha (Retd. Professor  and Head of Microbiology, Gandhi Medical College, and Vice-President of IAMM AP Chapter)  Dr. K.Saileela (Organising Secretary and Professor and Head, Dept of Microbiology, KIMS), Dr. K.Prasannthi (Associate Professor of Microbiology, Gandhi Medical College, Hyderabad and Secretary of IAMM AP Chapter) graced the occassion and released the souvenir.

 

(L>R : Dr. M.V.Ramanamma, Dr. P.R.Anuradha, Sri K.Suryanarayana, Dr. K.Sambasiva Rao, Dr. Shruti Mohanty, Dr. K.Prasanthi, Dr. K.Saileela)

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PHOTO GALLERY  : CME      CONFERENCE

Complete report:

Annual conference of Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists, Andhra Pradesh Chapter was organized by Department of Microbiology, Kamineni Institute of medical sciences, Narketpally, from 3^rd January 2014 to 5^th January 2014. Free accommodation at campus and free transport from Hyderabad was arranged for the delegates by the management of Kamineni educational society.

                  On 3^rd January 2014, Pre conference CME was conducted on Immunodiagnostics. Three eminent speakers in this field took part in the program. Program started with prayer after breakfast and registration. CME was inaugurated by the principal, Dr.Shruti Mohanty. First speaker, Dr.Renuka, pathologist and Director of Chanre diagnostic center in Bangalore.   gave a lecture on’ immunodiagnostic methods used in the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases’. She had given many practical examples from her own experience, Second speaker,  Mr.Badrinarayana, technical expert of BD diagnostics,  delivered a lecture on the use of ‘flowcytometry’ in diagnostic field and also demonstrated the technique of flowcytometry. There was a lunch break followed by a lecture on ‘Merits and demerits of common serological tests’ by Dr. Rajendra surpam, professor of Microbiology, KIMS. This was followed by demonstration of common serological tests like gel diffusion, ELISA, immunochromatography(ICT), western blot.               

On 4^th January 2014, conference started with registration and breakfast. Conference was inaugurated by the  honourable chairman of KIMS Sri Kamineni Suryanarayana garu. Chief guest was Dr.R.Sambasiva Rao, former Vice chancellor of DrNTRUHS. After welcome address by organizing secretary,Dr.K.Sai leela, program was started with prayer by master Nitesh and violinist, Paleti Govardhan Rao and lamp lighting by dignitaries on the dias.  Brief address by the vice president,IAMM AP chapter Dr.P.R.Anuradha, Secretary IAMM AP chapter Dr.K.Prasanthi wishing all the delegates. A brief introduction about the chief guest was given by the organizing secretary followed by talk by chief guest Dr.R.Sambasiva Rao. He had stressed on the importance of research and motivated youngsters in research. Souvenir was released by chief guest. Inaugural function was concluded by vote of thanks by Dr.B.Sreekanth.

                Program continued after tea break. Dr.Kola Rajyalaksmi Memorial oration was given by Dr.S.K.Mohanty on ‘immunosenescence’. This was followed by the lecture of Dr.M.V.Ramanamma on ‘Changing paradigms in the diagnosis of MDRTB’. There was lunch break followed by prize papers and free paper sessions in three halls. Poster session was also going on simultaneously. Sessions were concluded by 5.30pm. There was General body meeting where Dr. K.Sai leela was announced as President IAMM AP chapter for this year. Dr.Anuradha, professor and HOD Mamata Medical College, Khammam had given her consent to host  next 2015 annual conference in February second week at Khammam.

             There were excellent cultural programs performed by Sree Vidya Peeth students from 6.00pm to 7.30pm followed by dinner at 8.00 pm.

              Program continued on 5^th January 2014 with talk by Dr.R.R. Rao on ‘Changing concepts on Sepsis’. After tea break, there was PG Quiz conducted by Dr.D.S.Murty followed by pedagogue on Biomedical waste management. Free paper sessions continued simultaneously in all the three halls. After lunch break there was a rapid fire round conducted by Dr.Manik Das, Professor and HOD, Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences and Research. Prizes were distributed by Dr.Amaresh, Superintendent, KIMS hospital in Valedictory function. Program was concluded  with  the  vote of thanks proposed by the organising secretary, Dr.K.Sai leela followed by National anthem.

 

FRCPath Part- I Course ( Medical Microbiology)-2014

4^th FRCPath  Part- I Course ( Medical Microbiology)

                 22^nd– 24^th January 2014 , Department of Microbiology Global Hospital,  Hyderabad

This course is specifically held for those who wish to sit the FRCPath ( Medical Microbiology and Virology) PART- I  examinations conducted by the Royal College of Pathologists UK

The course will cover a wide range of topics in Medical Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, Infection control and prevention, Mycology, Parasitology, Virology and Tropical Medicine that form a major component of this examination adhering to  a MCQ & EMQ format as designed for the Part- I examinations with mock exam papers at the end of the course. It is preferable for a candidate to have at least 2 years work experience after their postgraduation to sit this examination.

For details contact :  Dr. Ranganathan Iyer

                                    Consultant Clinical Microbiologist

                                    Global Hospital , Hyderabad

                                    Mob: 09849690680

                                    E mail: ranganathaniyer@yahoo.com