Ronald Ross Institute to be centre of excellence

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, AUG. 20. The Ronald Ross Institute in Begumpet, a heritage building, is to be developed into a centre of excellence. Efforts are being made to acquire on lease the land adjacent to it for developing a landscape. Recently, the Archaelogical Survey of India (ASI) granted Rs.6.5 lakhs for further development of the building.

This was stated here on Sunday by Dr.D.C.Reddy, Vice-Chancellor, Osmania University and chairman of the institute's 12-member advisory committee, while addressing the World Mosquito Day celebrations.

The Indian Medical Association, Secunderabad branch, the institute, the university and the Ross Memorial Society organised the celebrations, which are being held since 1997 to mark the epoch-making discovery of the malarial parasite by Sir Ronald Ross.

Dr. Reddy, the chief guest, described Sir Ross as not only a brilliant scientist, but also as a poet and humanist.

Prof.Mohd.Shameem Jairajpuri, Vice-Chancellor, Maulana Abdul Kalam National Urdu University, in his keynote address called for efforts to tackle the menace of mosquitoes and checking the spread of the parasite which causes malaria. This disease, he said, was affecting 50 million people every year, resulting in two to three million fatalities.

Dr. V.Bhoom Reddy, State president of the IMA, who released the souvenir, suggested that focus should be on villages on treating infectious diseases, particularly malaria on a war footing.

He said a massive education campaign should be taken up in rural areas, with emphasis on preventive measures. People should be educated to take care of their health by giving importance to vital aspects like sanitation.

Dr.A.K.Chary, honorary secretary of the Ronald Ross Memorial Society and former State president of the IMA, who presided, expressed concern over malaria staging a comeback in the country, causing worry to the medical professionals.

He pleaded for transfer of the open land adjacent to the institute building so that training classes in parasitology could be run and the second tropical institute could be established. The first such institute is located in Calcutta.

Prof.C.Subramanyam, director of the Ronald Ross Institute, in his report, said the museum housed in the institute would be improved with the help of the World Health Organisation and the Salarjung Museum. The overall mission of the institute was to initiate and sustain social and scientific activities, commensurate with the image of Sir Ross, to establish the Ross Memorial Research Centre and to celebrate in August 2002 the centenary of the discovery made by Sir Ross.

Dr. A.Ramachari of the Ross Memorial Society, unveiled the portrait of Prof.Ahluwalia, former professor, Osmania Medical College, who discovered the institute building. Dr.D.Dwaraknath Reddy, honorary secretary, IMA State unit, released the Ronald Ross pin. Mrs.Leela Emaneul, daughter of Prof.Ahluwalia, was among those who attended the function.

Mr. Shravan Kumar, former Chief Secretary and State unit president of the Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), and Prof.V.Ramakistayya, former Vice- Chancellor, Osmania University, were felicitated for their contribution to repairing the building where the institute is located.

Scientific session on "Malaria in the new millennium" in which Prof.B.Narayan Rao, Prof.K.N.Sudha Ramana, Dr.Syed E.Hasnain and Dr.V.S.N.Murthy participated.

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