A series of events marked the day-long activities under the aegis of Public Health Dentistry and Department of Oral Medical and Radiology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, a constituent college of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Deemed to be University. These included the signing of Memorandum of Understanding, inauguration of Tobacco Cessation Centre in collaboration with National Tobacco Programme (NTCP), Release of Oral Health Care Manual for caretakers of children with special need in collaboration with Sathya Special School will mark IGIDS, SBV – Symbiosis organized on 28th June 2019.
Memorandum of Understanding for academic enrichment, research, and student – staff exchange was signed with the College of Dentistry, University of IOWA, USA. Prof. Bruce A. Anderson, Professor of Community and Preventive Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of IOWA, USA and Prof. A.R. Srinivasan, Registrar, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth signed the MoU in the presence Prof. Subhash Chandra Parija, the Vice-Chancellor of SBV.
Prof. S.C. Parija said ”the tenure of our human life is limited and our activities during this period should aim at helping the community in reaching out to its needs. Further, the research, patents and technology transfer should aim at providing service at affordable costs which can help and serve the community at large”.
Tobacco Cessation Centre in collaboration with the National Tobacco Control Programme is started at Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, a constituent college of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth. This center was inaugurated by Dr. L. Swasticharan, Chief Medical Officer, National Tobacco Control Programme & national Oral Health program, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi, Government of India, in the presence of Dr. S. Govindarajan, State Nodal Officer, National Tobacco Control Programme, Government of Puducherry. Dr. L. Swasticharan was complementing the services of the Public Health Dentistry, IGIDS towards the creation of public awareness in oral health and hygiene. The student community has to play a major role in the public health and awareness and the governmental organizations will stand by the efforts put up by the private partners.
To highlight the day, health care manuals regarding Oral Health for the caretakers of children with special need were released by Ms. Chitra Amitshah, Director of Sathya Special School in the presence of Dr. O. Kavipriya, State Nodal Officer, National Oral Health Programme, Government of Puducherry. And Dr. R. Suriya Kumar, State Consultant, National Tobacco Control Programme.
Further Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences and M/S Sai Supreme Medifurn, Pondicherry for technology transfer of the patent products of Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences according to Prof. M. Senthil, Coordinator, Intellectual Property Right Cell and Head, Department of Public Health Dentistry, IGIDS.
The above programs were coordinated by the Department of Public Health Dentistry and Oral Medicine & Radiology of Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, said Prof. Saravanakumar, Principal, Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences.
