Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 3: Research work of the Viral Research and Diagnostic (VRD) Laboratory in the Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu entitled “The silent epidemics: An insight into the burden of Hepatitis B and C viruses in Jammu, its co-infection with HIV and an update on the regional genotypes” was adjudged the best amongst many at GISICON 2019 (Conference on Gastro-intestinal infections) held at DMC Ludhiana.
The study was a meta-analysis of published studies in Indexed Journals on Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C seroprevalence along with their molecular characterization and their co infection with HIV. In a more than a decade long population based syndromic and health facility based surveillance of Viral Hepatitis, molecular diagnostics was applied in order to assess the quality of the prevalent hepatitis viruses in Jammu division.
This quality database generated for ready reference by the clinical academicians and researchers is a gateway for the implementation of the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP) to be launched shortly under National Health Mission (NHM).
It is pertinent to mention here that the VRD Lab in GMC Jammu, a state of the art diagnostic lab, is a Government of India initiative to help in diagnostic capacity for the newer viral infections like Swine Flu, Dengue, Chikungunya and many more. Dr Shashi Sudhan Sharma, Prof and Head, Department of Microbiology, GMC Jammu is the Principal Investigator and Nodal Officer of the VRD Lab.
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