There could not have been a more auspicious beginning to Sankara Nethralaya’s initiative to bring State of the Art diagnosis to the East of India, His Holiness Jagadguru Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal made his divine presence and blessed the Polymerase Chain Reaction laboratory by lighting a holy lamp. The Sankaracharya later made a most heartwarming address to the doctors and staff members of the Aditya Birla Sankara Nethralaya, the pontiff underlined to the audience that they were rendering one of the most noblest services in the form of eye care and fulfilling their duty of providing vision to humanity, he exhorted them to live up to the high expectations placed on this role.
The inaugural of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Laboratory started with a holy invocation after which Dr Sujata Guha, Medical Director, Aditya Birla Sankara Nethralaya extended a most warm welcome to the dignitaries, to the assembled doctor fraternity and their families, Sankara Nethralaya staff and their families. The Chief Guest of the day Dr Mammen Chandy was introduced by Dr. Jyotirmay Biswas, Director, Uvea and Pathology Departments and honoured by Dr SS.Badrinath, Chairman Emeritus. This was followed by the introduction and honouring of Swami Smaranandaji Maharaj by Dr Abhijit Sarkar, HOD, Laboratory Services, Aditya Birla Sankara Nethralaya. After an interesting audio-visual presentation on the PCR laboratory and dedication of the Murals by Swami Smaranandaji Maharaj, Professor HN. Madhavan, President, Vision Research Foundation gave an in-depth presentation on the critical role of PCR as a process in accurate and quick diagnosis.
Chief Guest Dr.Mammen Chandy declared open the Laboratory describing it s a ‘Life-Saving’ facility, he underlined the need for such advanced diagnostic processes with a real life instance. The function concluded with Swami Swaranandaji Maharaj blessing the laboratory and delivery of a Vote of Thanks by Dr K.Lily Therese, Professor and HOD of the Microbiology Department.
The inauguration of the PCR laboratory was followed by a one day Continuing Medical Education symposium on Clinical diagnosis and laboratory investigations in infections, emphasizing on rapid molecular microbiological tests under the aegis of Senior Medicare Professionals. Faculty members from Sankara Nethralaya and leading healthcare institutions participated in the symposium and discussed the clinical challenges in infections including ophthalmic infections and the latest techniques in laboratory diagnosis. The session helped to throw new light on fields like Clinico-pathological and microbiological correlations, endophthalmitis, orbital infections and PCR. The session also witnessed interesting case presentations, panel discussions and concluded with a most informative Q&A session.