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The fight against the Coronavirus has brought to the forefront healthcare workers and helpers who are risking their lives to help the nation. Many inspirational women are playing a critical role in pushing through the daily hardships and doing the best they can in the fight against the pandemic. One such person is Minal Dakhave Bhosle, Mylab Discovery Solution's research and development chief. If you're interested in the field of science and medicine, her story will inspire you to pursue a career in the field.
Minal Bhosale and her team at Mylab created India's first coronavirus test kit. The kit was manufactured in a short time of just six weeks compared to the industry standard of three to four months. Yet the most remarkable thing about the creation of the kit is that it all happened while she was pregnant. On March 18, she submitted her testing kit for evaluation to the National Institute of Virology. The same evening, she also submitted the kit to the Indian FDA and the drugs control authority CDSCO for commercial approval, just an hour before she went to a hospital to deliver her baby!
She is quoted saying, "If you carry out 10 tests on the same sample, all 10 results should be the same. And we achieved that. Our kit was perfect." Minal and her team had only begun work on the testing kit in February after she left the hospital with a pregnancy complication. "It was an emergency, so I took this on as a challenge. I have to serve my nation," she said, also mentioning that her team, which consisted of 10 members, worked tirelessly to ensure a quick turnaround.
Women like Minal are an excellent example of successful women in India who are driven and do not sit on their past success. During the 2009 outbreak of the Swine Flu disease, Minal was also part of the team working on a vaccine for the disease at NIV, Pune. Her efforts show us that women in science and technology in the country are carrying out some of the most pioneering work. Every kit manufactured by Mylab is capable of testing 100 samples at a cost of only Rupees 1,200. This is almost a quarter of the Rupees 4,500 India was paying to import COVID 19 testing from overseas. Minal and her team also made sure that the test diagnosis was available much quicker. The kit gives a diagnosis in two and a half hours compared to imported testing kits, which take up to seven hours.
Women warriors like Minal are the flag bearers for working women who are ambitious and fearless. She is an excellent example of selfless dedication and shows us that it is possible to successfully achieve our goals even when the odds may be against us. Like her, you too can create a path for yourself in the field of science and who knows, maybe someday your name shall be etched in history.
If you are keenly interested in the field of science, check out the Glow and Lovely Careers online courses in science to get you started.