‘Universities Must Engage With Civil Society’, Says Rajiv Gandhi University VC Prof Kushwaha

* RGU signs pact with IILDS on delivery of comprehensive Hepatitis B care

A Correspondent

RONO HILLS (DOI-MUKH): The Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) on Friday inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Kolkata-based Indian Institute of Liver & Digestive Sciences (IILDS), a unit of the Liver Foundation (West Bengal), which would engage the two institutions on co-operation and implementation of community-based project on delivery of comprehensive HBV care in Arunachal Pradesh, comprising population screening and linkage to care.

Extending his congratulations to both the institutions, RGU VC Prof Kushwaha said that this MoU is an indicator of the larger role that a university needs to larger play in addition to providing access to higher education and research.

“Universities must engage with civil society and constantly explore ways of how it can contribute to the State’s well being. Academic work is one component of what we do. This, the outreach and finding synergies with the people, is another significant component that RGU has always striven to deliver”, he said. The John C Martin Foundation (USA) is funding the project with the LFWB and IILDS as the primary recipients of the grant and RGU as the sub-recipient.

Designed with a duration of 10 months, the Rs 60-lakh project would target a population of 3,000 of all ages residing in the State and also build capacity of healthcare workers (doctors and nurses) about disease states, prevention, care and treatment of hepatitis B, in addition to training laboratory workers to conduct clinical tests for hepatitis infection, diagnosis and monitoring.

The project would also conduct screening of hepatitis B and hepatitis C to identify those currently infected, previously exposed, immunized by vaccination and at-risk for infection.

After the results are analyzed and reported, individuals will be followed up according to the status of the screening results.

IILDS was represented by its Secretary of Board of Governance, Prof (Dr) Abhijit Chowdhury at the signing, while the RGU team comprised of Vice-Chancellor Prof Saket Kushwaha, Registrar Prof Tomo Riba, and members of the Executive Council of the RGU, Dr Akin Tana Tara and officers of the university.

Also read: Arunachal news