Dr. Asha Kishore, Director, Sree Chithira Thirunal Institute

for Medical Sciences and Technology,

Dr. Muraleedharan Nair, Organizing Chairman,

Dr. Abraham Kuruvila, Organizing Secretary,

Dr. K. Jayakumar, Professor,

Dr. Sanjeev V Thomas, Professor,

Dear Delegates, Researchers,

Sahodaree Sahodaranmaare,

Ellaavarkkum Ente Namaskaaram,

I am very happy to inaugurate the International Workshop on Super EMG India-2018 organized by the Sree Chithira Thirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram.

Let me at the outset, compliment the Scientists and Researchers at Sree Chithira Thirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology for organizing this Workshop to discuss the latest trends in Electro-myography, Single fiber Electro-myography and Quantitative Electro-myography and to impart skills in these areas to neurologists. It is indeed very useful that a Neuro-muscular symposium is being conducted as part of the Workshop.

The Sree Chitra Institute, which was started with the vision of establishing a globally competitive science and technology base for medical devices in the country, has been developing technologies which are competitive in the international market. Besides, the research conducted in frontier areas of health care technology has elevated its status as a premier institute of global fame. This workshop, which has the presence of some of the leading international faculty shows the Institute's keen interest in taking forward its activities in best possible manner.

I also take this opportunity to congratulate Prof. M. Gourie Devi who has received the Life-time achievement award in this meeting. As we all know, her contribution to the development of neurological sciences in India has very few parallels. She is widely respected as a distinguished neurologist, teacher, mentor and researcher and her works have set benchmarks in neurological studies in India and abroad. Her presence in this workshop is certainly very inspiring.

Like in other discipline of study, the developments in Neurological Sciences in recent times have helped considerably to identify and treat disorders which had remained unnoticed and incurable in the past. From the seventies, when our neurologists had to be content with limited, rudimentary equipment, we have progressed to the level of our neurology being almost comparable with that in the developed world. Today, with the developments in Electro Physiology, our Neurologists have access to compact and micro-chip based equipment with high accuracy.

However, what is equally or more gratifying is that there has been considerable break-through in the research related to neurological sciences in the last decade, especially in Electromyography and clinical Neuro-physiology. Electro-myography [EMG] being one of the most versatile tests that help to clarify the diagnosis of even the most obscure neuro-muscular disorders, doctors need to be trained in this area.
I am happy that this International workshop intends to give hands on training and skill development to Residents, Fellows and Neurologists across the country on nerve conduction study and other significant methods.

I also understand that inter-disciplinary studies and research have been contributing greatly to the development of knowledge in all areas of neurology. The advances in genetics and immunology, for instance, are now helping to identify genes causing human neurological diseases. I hope this conference would have discussions on such studies also.

Since this workshop is being held in Kerala, I think a word or two about the prevalence of neurological health issues in Kerala, which affect elderly people, will not be out of place. We know that with the development of medical science, there has been improvement in life expectancy every-where. No wonder, the elderly population is also on the increase all over the world. In Kerala, the percentage of population above 60 years of age is 12% and it may cross 25% by the year 2050. I understand that Neurological handicaps form a considerable chunk of the health issues faced by our elderly people. It is high time we addressed the unique neurological health issues of the elderly population with a little more attention. The Neuro-psychiatric diseases like Parkinson's disease, dementia etc. are also becoming too common. We, therefore, need to scale up the capacity and expertise of our Neurological care delivery system by providing training to physicians in this area and by attracting more medical graduates into this disciplines.

The organizers of this workshop could also think of continued efforts to create awareness among people about the Neurological issues they could face in different stages of life. You may be well aware that in most of the third world countries, one of the issues hampering the field of Neurological sciences is the lack of social awareness about Neurological disorders. Awareness about factors contributing to such issues in children and infants also need to be highlighted.

I hope that the Neurology Department of the Institute would benefit greatly from the presentations in this Workshop and pass on that benefit to the people in the form of more advanced diagnosis and treatment.

I once again greet all the delegates who have
come to attend this Workshop and wish them a comfortable stay here. I compliment the Sree Chithira Thirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology for having organized this function in a befitting manner.

Ellavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal

Nanni

Jai Hind