Manipal: Manipal Centre for Virus Research (MCVR), Manipal University in collaboration with Health Services, Government of Kerala started an Infectious Disease Laboratory in the Taluk Hospital of Sulthan Bathery last Sunday. Health Minister Ms K K Shylaja Teacher inaugurated the laboratory in the presence of Ms T Ushakumari, District Panchayat President and Dr G Arun Kumar, H.O.D of MCVR.

While thanking MCVR for taking the initiative to start a laboratory, the Health Minister said, “Sultan Bathery is the tri-junction for the states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It also lies along the forest area which makes the establishment of the laboratory all the more important.”

Dr H Vinod Bhat, Vice Chancellor, Manipal University said, “Manipal University has been previously involved in Public-Private partnerships in the Public Health domain and this laboratory is another feather in its cap.” The laboratory which is the first of its kind in Wayanad District has been built at a cost of Rs 1 crore. Initiated to strengthen the disease detection and surveillance capacity of the district health officials, this will in turn implement evidence based precision public health response.