Health minister inaugurates genome sequencing machine at RIMS

The much awaited genome sequencing machine was inaugurated by State Health Minister Banna Gupta at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Ranchi. At the inauguration ceremony those who accompanied the minister included Kanke MLA Samri Lal, RIMS director Dr Kameshwar Prasad along with a large number of doctors and health workers.

Sources said that amid rising cases of new variants, the technology of genome sequencing is under the spotlight. Sources said that just like the human body is made up of DNA, viruses are also made from either DNA or RNA. The coronavirus is made of RNA, and genome sequencing is the technique by which the genetic coding of this RNA is obtained.

Worth approximately Rs 5.60 crore the machine will be used to test thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, neurological tests and DNA other than different variants of the Covid-19. This machine can test 384 samples at a time. It will help know the corona variant within 72 hours.

Also with the inauguration of the genome sequencing machine, the department of Genetics and Genome also got operational under the headship of Dr Anupa Prasad.

RIMS got the machine at the time when cases of corona are rising in the State. The Ranchi district administration has sounded alert following Covid death in the district almost after five months. The previous coronavirus fatality in the district was recorded on February 2 this year.

As per district administration, a 61-year-old man from Ormanjhi died of the coronavirus infection in Ranchi on Sunday. With the fresh death due to coronavirus infection, the toll due to Covid-19 in the district has reached 1,607.

On the increasing cases of Corona, the Health Minister said that the government is taking serious note of it. “We are keeping an eye on the circumstances. The infected patients are recovering properly,” he said. On non-compliance of corona guidelines, the minister said: “Corona will not end only by applying a mask. Rather, other guidelines will also have to be followed.”

Gupta after inaugurating the machine highlighted the various achievements of State Government especially during pandemic times. He said that doctors, nurses, para-medical and housekeeping people of state have worked together to save the lives of people during the Corona period. More than 110 PSA plants have been installed in Jharkhand.

“Apart from this, 15 RT-PCR machines, more than 300 True Nat machines and Cobas-6800 have also been installed,” minister Gupta said. “The government is also working on curbing anaemia among women and children in the State. After the installation of the genome sequencing machine, the people of the State will be given better health service,” Gupta added. Daily Pioneer