The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Minister assures support to tropical medicine centre

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Thursday, Aug 21, 2008
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Minister assures support to tropical medicine centre

Staff Reporter

Ross Institute to turn into full-fledged school

HYDERABAD: Efforts are on in full swing, as the clamour gets intense to convert the age-old edifice, housing Sir Ronald Ross Memorial and Institute of Parasitology, near Begumpet old airport, into a full-fledged school of tropical medicine and a centre to train manpower to handle mosquito-borne ailments.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare Sambhani Chandrasekhar, who attended World Mosquito Day function at Sir Ronald Ross building on Wednesday, assured to extend support to set up a tropical medicine centre. It was here that the Noble prize winner on August 20, 1897 discovered the role of female Anopheles mosquito in causing malaria.

The heritage structure, which also doubles-up as a museum, has been dogged by ‘inactivity’ over the years. In fact, a part of the abutting land is still under the control of Airport Authority of India (AAI), which, authorities point out, has been an impediment in taking up developmental, research oriented and teaching activities.

“We know the historical importance of this building. Since the AAI has shifted its base to Shamshabad the transfer of land should not be a problem. This should be developed into an institute and Osmania University has to take the lead on this issue, as the facility falls under its purview,” Mr. Chandrasekhar said.

Secretary of Ross Memorial Society, Hyderabad Dr. A.K. Chary made a plea to use the resources of Osmania University to train manpower especially in the field of mosquito-borne ailments.

“Only Kolkata has a tropical medicine school and it is high time the authorities act and convert this facility into a tropical medicine institute,” Dr. Chary said.

In-charge director of the institute B. Reddya Naik felt that training ground staff to handle mosquito control programmes is the key. “The ground staff is technically inept to handle anti mosquito measures. This is where this institute can play a big role to train health workers through orientation and refresher courses,” Dr. Naik said.

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