Port Blair, July 30: Shri Keshav Chandra, IAS, Chief Secretary, Andaman & Nicobar Administration virtually inaugurated the District Integrated Public Health Laboratory (DIPHL) at BJR Hospital, Car Nicobar today in the presence of Smt. Nandini Paliwal, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Health) and other Senior Officers of the Administration along with Tribal Leaders from Car Nicobar.

This 'State of the Art' Laboratory has been established under Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) with100 % funding from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, GoI. It will be providing Diagnostic Facilities to conduct surveillance of epidemic prone diseases in a decentralized manner, apart from the routine therapeutic investigations under one roof.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Secretary, congratulated the entire Health team for their achievement in establishing such modern lab in the remote tribal territory and desired that this facility will be duly utilized towards providing better healthcare services especially related to early diagnosis and timely treatment in Nicobar itself.

Dr. Anwar Moosa, Medical Superintendent, BJR Hospital, Car Nicobar, on behalf of the Directorate of Health Services and the Tribal Community of Car Nicobar has expressed his gratitude to the Andaman and Nicobar Administration for opening such lab which will surely benefit the tribal populace.

Dr. Anil Agarwal, Special Secretary (Health)/ Mission Director (NHM), informed that the Administration is committed to establish more such laboratories at Dr. R.P. Hospital Mayabunder to be made operational in August, 2024 and the third District Lab at the upcoming District Hospital Garacharama in the near future. The Laboratories at Dr. R.P. Hospital Mayabunder and BJR Hospital, Car Nicobar will act as satellite laboratories whereas, the DIPHL at upcoming District Health Garacharama will act as a State Reference Laboratory.

With this, the mandate under PM-ABHIM for establishment of three District Integrated Public Health Laboratories in this UT by March, 2025 is expected to be duly achieved.