Adm Byce inaugurates 'hyperbaric chamber' at INHS Asvini

Mumbai, May 3 (UNI) India's first indigenously designed and built hyperbaric chamber, 'Samudrasuta HBCI', was inaugurated today by Vice Admiral Sangram Singh Byce, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command (WNC), at the naval hospital INHS Asvini here.

The chamber, first of its kind in the country, was conceived in 2002 with an aim to augment the facilities at INHS Asvini for conducting studies on diving, submarines and hyperbaric medicine.

The Chamber, built at a cost of Rs 1.9 crore, has been developed by the Delhi-based Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS) and Pune-based Research and Development Establishment Engineers (R&DE ENGRS), under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

M/s Vijay Sabre was contracted for development and associated biomedical equipment. Besides treatment of deep sea naval divers, the hyperbaric chamber has been found to be extremely useful during the treatment of children (patients) suffering from physical disabilities related to lack of oxygen, nervous system and used by armed forces and the civilians alike.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice Admiral Byce said he was happy that INHS Asvini has taken a lead in installing the first-ever indigenously fabricated hyperbaric chamber.

''The commissioning of the chamber is a quantum improvement that our scientists and researchers in the medical field are striving for.

It is a matter of great pride for all of us that the country has acquired the capacity to develop a chamber of such hyperbaric capacity. The benefit that this chamber will accrue are immense,'' he said.

''This facility is not restricted only to the armed forces personnel but is avalaible to civilians as well,'' he said.

Admiral Byce said it was his vision to make the INHS Asvini a model hospital in the world, and that it was on way to achieving this goal.

''I am sure INHS Aswini will take the lead in establishing itself as the best hospital in the world,'' he added.

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