Nagpur varsity seeks ICMR nod for coronavirus testing facility

Nagpur, Apr 15 ()Rashtrasant Tukadoji MaharajNagpur University (RTMNU) has submitted a proposal to theIndian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for setting up acoronavirus testing facility on its campus here, an officialsaid on Wednesday.

The varsity proposes to make the facility availablefor public at affordable charges, a release said.

"As per the ICMR statement issued on April 1, therearea total of 126 laboratories that havebeen approved andsupported by the government. However, testing facilities forthis dreadful virus, COVID-19, are inadequate in Vidarbharegion (in east Maharashtra). Presently, this facility isavailable only in a few government medical colleges inNagpur," it said.

The varsity is sending a proposal to ICMR for grantingpermission to set up a COVID-19 Testing Facility Centre at itscampus, which could be made available for general public at anaffordable price, it said.

RTMNU PRO Shyam Dhond told on Wednesday that thevarsity is providing 500 cooked food packets two times a dayto the needy people through its community kitchen.

He said varsity employees have donated their one day'ssalary, totalling about Rs 16 lakh, to the Maharashtra CMrelief fund to fight coronavirus. CLSNSK NSK