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Union Health Minister Lays Foundation for International Center of Excellence for Medical Entomology Training
Union Health Minister Lays Foundation for International Center of Excellence for Medical Entomology Training
No country could develop without promoting research and knowledge acquisition by its citizens, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Saturday.
“Research and wealth of knowledge play an important role in the development of the country. We need to encourage research and the acquisition of knowledge by people,” he said after laying the foundations for an International Center of Excellence for Training in Medical Entomology (ICETIME) at the Center for Research on vector control (VCRC).
Reinforcing his argument on research, the Union minister said the country had witnessed during the pandemic the benefit of investing in research in a timely manner. “We could contain the spread of the virus through timely research to develop vaccines to fight the virus,” he said.
A statement from the VCRC said ICETIME would offer master’s degrees, diplomas, certificate courses and informal training. The Center would have state-of-the-art teaching facilities. The institute would be open to people from Southeast Asian and African countries to strengthen the vector control arm of the national program in their respective regions, according to the statement.
After laying the foundations of the Centre, the Union Minister visited the Jipmer campus to inaugurate the International School of Public Health. Mr Mandaviya said the Center sanctioned ₹65 crore for constructing the building.
Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, President R. Selvam, Minister of Public Works K. Lakshminarayanan, MP (Lok Sabha) V. Vaithilingam and MP (Rajya Sabha) S. Selvaganapathy attended both programs. .
LG expresses dismay
Mrs. Soundararajan, while participating in the Jipmer program, expressed her dissatisfaction with the institute’s decision not to perform Tamil Thai Vazhthu. The inaugural program began with a performance of the Dhanvantri prayer by the students.
“It is not appropriate to ignore Tamil Thai Vazhthu as the institute mainly caters to Tamil speaking people. I want the authorities to take corrective action,” she said. Before concluding the program, the institute performed the song.
