Inauguration of Winter School at ICAR-CIFT
Inauguration of WS by VC, KUFOS
The ICAR sponsored 21 days Winter School on “Antimicrobial Resistance in fish and aquatic environment and its impact on human health” at ICAR0CIFT inaugurated at ICAR CIFT on 1St December 2017.
Use of antibiotics in both animal production and human medicine has increased in recent decades and allowing the bacteria to become resistance. The subsequent transmission and spread of resistant pathogenic bacteria sets the scene for development of drug-resistant infections (DRIs). At present, DRIs are estimated to account for 50,000 deaths each year in Europe and the USA alone, but by 2050 it is estimated that DRIs will account for 10 million deaths per year worldwide, posing and possible economic burden tuning to 1300 trillion and also biosecurity threat. In 2000, globally it was estimated 54billion standard units of antibiotics have been consumed, and this figure increased by 36% in the following 10 years, creating the preconditions of a public health crisis. Use of antibiotics is fourfold increase in India.
Dr. MM. Prasad, Principal Scientist, Head of Microbiology, Fermentation and Biotechnology Division of CIFT and Course Director welcomed the gathering and gave brief description of the program. Dr. A.K. Mohanty, Principal Scientist and Head of EIS Division spoke on importance of ICAR sponsored Winter School for refreshing/ updating the knowledge and skill of the faculties and scientists in the concerned filed and to keep them abreast with recent developments and issues in the sector. In the presidential address Dr. C.N. Ravishankar, Director CIFT spoke on the importance of the AMR in aquaculture, other terrestrial animals and to public health. He also mentioned that CIFT is in forefront in the form of organizing FAO Workshop for identifying potential areas in AMR, research contributions and also observing World AMR Awareness Week. In the augural address Chief Guest of the function Prof (Dr). A. Ramachandran, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies stressed on the expenditure incurred by the Indian government to the tune of 56,000 per annum related AMR and aquaculture and agriculture are becoming sources of antibiotic resistance that is being transferred to others. The inaugural session came to an end with vote of thanks by Dr. Toms Joseph.The winter school constituted 40 theory and practical 20 classes and a total of 26 candidates from 9 states that included Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Tamil Nadu, UP, Rajasthan, Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Kerala are participating in the program.
Director, CIFT addressing