Dr Harsh Vardhan inaugurates the Paragonimiasis Research Lab(PRL) at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK), Nagaland

New Delhi, April 26, 2016: Union Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Harsh Vardhan, on his visit to the Department of Bio-Technology (DBT)-funded Healthcare Laboratory and Research Centre at the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK)earlier this week, inaugurated the Paragonimiasis Research Lab (PRL) there. Paragoimiasis is a food borne parasitic infection caused by eating undercooked crab or crayfish. It has been endemic in Nagaland and about half of the patients attending the TB clinic were actually suffering from pulmonary paragonimiasis.

The Minister was apprised about the current status of Paragonimiasis in Nagaland. He was informed that there were more than 40 cases of Paragonimiasis in Nagaland, reported mostly from rural areas. The Minister exhorted the researchers to come forward to find a solution to the problem of paragonimiasis by involving local tribes and policy makers with support from Department of Bio-Technology and Department of Science & Technology.

Shri P. Longon, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Government of Nagaland informed the Union Minister that after setting up Department of Bio-Technology health laboratory and research centre at NHAK, a total of 1,43,237 number of various laboratory tests have been done till date. Further, he appealed to the Union Minister to provide animal house facility for research purpose in the state, which was the immediate need as there was no animal house facility in the whole state.