Department of History, organizes international web lecture 

Chandigarh: The Department of History, Panjab University, Chandigarh organized an International Web Lecture as a part of Series initiated by the Department during lockdown period, ‘Pandemics Across Ages’. About 80 participants participated in the Web Lecture .
 
Dr. Sunjay Suri, Professor and Director of Graduate Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Canada, the distinguished speaker delivered his lecture on, “Oral Health: Its Social Implications and Remedies in Light of Covid-19”. The quality of information, pertinence of the talk, its comprehensive nature, cross disciplinary and international bearings and extremely informative deliverables enthralled the audience of 80 and it is notable that not one participant left the talk midway which has become the norm in webinars nowadays.  He delved at length in an extremely engaging manner on ramifications of COVID-19 as they are related to the field of Orthodontics.
 
PU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Raj Kumar, while appreciating the efforts,emphasized that intake is very important for the human body and since all intake is through the mouth and orally, it is vital that oral health and care be maintained at optimal levels, especially during the present pandemic, when access to the Orthodontists and Dentists is very limited. There is a widespread belief, backed by medical opinion, that the primary access of the COVID-19 virus into the human body is through the mouth, and as such, the topic of the web lecture was extremely timely and pertinent.  He asked everyone to take care of one’s health through personal hygiene and recitation of mantras, which additionally contributes towards the keeping of mental peace. He remarked that the historical evaluation of the facts of Pandemics in the past shall help us understand the challenges connected with the present crisis and equip us better to deal with them.
 
The distinguished speaker, Dr. Sunjay Suri in his illustrative and illuminating presentation traced the historical record of the spread of virus first in Athens. Various pandemics, influenza, Spanish flu etc., from time to time in historical memory, had been claiming precious human lives in shockingly large numbers. 

In context of the Covid-19, informed Dr. Sunjay Suri, that human to human transmission of SARS Covid-2 has chiefly occurred through respiratory tract via droplets, secretions through cough, sneeze and or direct contact. This leads virus to enter the mucous membrane of mouth, nose and eyes. Due to this, severe respiratory and multi-organ complication may be found among persons of advanced age, sixty-five or above. According to the speaker, the elective orthodontic treatment during Covid-19 must necessarily be suspended.

Emergency orthodontic treatment, however, may be followed by a contingency plan founded on effective communication and triage. Treatment advice be given first and if necessary, in-person treatment may be performed in a well- prepared operatory following infection prevention and control protocol. He drew the attention of the audience to the fact that during the current Covid-19 pandemic, it is imperative that orthodontists and dental professionals think globally and act locally to minimize the risks of transmitting SARS-Co-2 in their clinical settings. 

He congratulated the Department of History for initiating academic endeavours linking two diverse subjects and expressed his delight in the subject matter as a Pharmacy scholar. The engagement in research projects may lead to a strong defense mechanism in our fight against Covid-19.
 
Dean Research, Professor V. R. Sinha, the Guest of Honour, remarked that the present critical time should best be utilized in enhancing research potentialities and pursuing research. 
 
Dr. Anju Suri, Professor and Chairperson of the Department in her introductory address expounded the relevance of the Series, ‘Pandemics Across Ages’ by delving on the point that it provides opportunity to deliberate on social dimensions attached with Covid-19 and develop strategies with an integrated approach of knowledge of sciences and social sciences committed towards intellectual prudence to combat the present crisis.
 
Several doctors and medical experts from PGIMER, Chandigarh  also joined the interaction. The highly incisive and comprehensive lecture was followed by Question-Answer Session conducted by Dr. Priyatosh Sharma, the Associate Professor of the Department of History who partnered Professor Anju Suri, in the team of organisers of the lecture. The lecture was joined by experts from academic, scientists, medical and dental practitioners, researchers, students and faculty members from many departments and Universities across India. The lecture ended with the formal vote of thanks to the participants by the organizers.