Research to fore at Army doctors’ meet

Blood samples will be obtained from all serving personnel from units in station,school children and health care workers. The study will try to determine the factors associated with the infection and knowledge and attitude towards the infection among the community.

Other projects that have been approved include studies on finding out psycho social reasons of acts of deliberate self harm. Cases of suicides are on the rise in the armed forces and such studies will be useful in formulating strategies to prevent further incidents.

The committee which held its 48th meeting during the ongoing conference examined 125 new research proposals. In 2009,129 new proposals were approved with a budget of Rs 5 crore. In 2008,115 new proposals had been approved with a budget of Rs 5 crore. In 2007,160 projects had been approved with a budget of Rs 4.85 crore and in 2006,159 projects had been approved with a budget of Rs 4.8 crore.

The committee is headed by Lt Gen N K Parmar,DG AFMS. It includes Air Mshl P Madhusoodanan,DGMS (Air Force),Lt Gen S R Mehta,DGMS (Army),Surg VADM V K Saxena,DGMS (Navy),Lt Gen P Bhargava,(DGHS – AF),Lt Gen S B Sehajpal, DGDS,Lt Gen D P Vats,Director and Commandant,AFMC.

A highlight of the day’s proceedings was a guest lecture by Dr Ashok Panagariya,Vice Chancellor,Rajasthan University of Health Sciences,Principal,Controller and Professor of Neurology,SMS Medical College and Hospital,Jaipur on ‘Science of Mind : Revisited in Health and Happiness.’