Mangaluru: The State Task Force (STF) of Karnataka and Department of Community Medicine in collaboration with the Department of Hospital Administration and Chest medicine of Yenepoya Medical College, Yenepoya University, Derlakatte, Mangalore organised RNTCP (Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme) STF Operational Research (OR) Workshop to develop the capacity of medical college faculty and programme managers in Karnataka and to strengthen the on-going operational research initiatives under RNTCP in India.

The function was inaugurated on April 6 by Dr Sharath B N, Chairperson, State RNTCP Operational Research, in the presence of Dr. M Vijayakumar, Vice Chancellor, Yenepoya University; Dr G Shreekumar Menon, Registrar, Yenepoya University; Dr Ghulam Jeelani Qadiri, Dean/ Principal, Yenepoya Medical College; Dr. Badarudeen M N, District Tuberculosis Officer, Dakshina Kannada and Dr. Abhay S Nirgude, Professor and Head, Dept. of Community Medicine, Yenepoya Medical College. Dr M Vijayakumar gave the presidential address in the inaugural function.

Dr Sharath said that the workshop which is first of its kind in Karnataka, had received the funding before the commencement of the operational research.
“Totally there are 8 projects approved all across Karnataka state. A total of 16 participants are undergoing training in this workshop. The STF Karnataka has adopted a unique model to build the capacity of medical college faculty systematically in a manner which will help the participants of the workshop to develop an OR study protocol, receive funds to execute/implement the project, capture and analyse the data, write the scientific paper and publish the work in a reputed journal”, he added.

Dr Sharath also complemented Dr Akshay K M, Associate professor, Community Medicine, for taking a lead in organising the workshop along with the guidance of Dr Abhay Nirgude, Professor and Head of the Department of Community Medicine.

The workshop will be held till April 8 at Yenepoya Medical College.