8th Annual Conference on Infectious Diseases "The Age of Superbugs; Facts and Solutions" was organised by Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan (IDSP) in collaboration with The International Society of Chemotherapy (ISC) in Islamabad on Saturday.
"It is heartening that IDSP has been in the forefront of tackling Infectious Diseases (ID) issues in Pakistan. I am fully aware of the admirable efforts and events conducted by IDSP to enhance medical knowledge and clinical skills of medical practitioners, family physicians, Infectious Disease Specialists, Microbiologists and other medical and paramedical professionals, while addressing the conference, Dr Asad Hafeez, Director General Health said.
He continued that, "The Ministry of Health applauds the efforts of IDSP and will extend all possible help in such academic activities to build a strong and broad based private-public partnership." Dr Altaf Ahmed, President Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan, Director Laboratory Services & Consultant Microbiologists, The Indus Hospital, Korangi Crossing, Korangi, Karachi and Dr Ejaz Khan, General Secretary IDSP and Chairperson of Organising Committee, Consultant Paediatrician, Shifa International Hospital were among the panelists in the conference.
The participating speakers for the conference were Professor Kurt Naber, Associate Professor of Urology of Munich, Past-President ISC, Dr Lars Kocherscheidt, Hain Lifescience GMBH, Hardwiesenstrass, Germany, Brigadier Parvez Ahmed, Consultant Hematologist Armed Forces BMT Centre, Rawalpindi, Dr Salman Siddiqui, Consultant Mycobacteriologist, USA, Professor Naveed Khan, Chair, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, AKU, Professor Sajid Maqbool, Professor Emeritus, Children Hospital, Lahore and Professor Ashraf Sultan, King Edward Medical University/ Mayo Hospital, Lahore.
Dr Altaf Ahmed while addressing the conference said that, "IDSP is holding its 8th Conference at Islamabad with the objective to discuss way forward to meet these challenges in Pakistan. The emergence of antibiotic resistance is further complicated by the fact that bacteria and their resistance genes are travelling faster and further. We are facing not only epidemics but pandemics of antibiotic resistance ie airlines carry passengers, world-wide distribution of foods, poor hygiene in hospitals and community, augmenting the rapid spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria is vulnerable in populations." He also said that, "This is an excellent opportunity to exchange information with both national and international experts."
"Over the last many years we have achieved significant milestones such as Rabies Awareness, Infection Control, Immunisation Campaigns and Hand Hygiene among the school children," said Dr Ejaz Khan while addressing the conference. He also said that, "Infectious Disease is the single most cause that creates havoc among the population. This is to be tackled through awareness, followed by intervention only."
The conference consisted of four workshops ie Antibiotics Use & Abuse in Common Infections, Patient Safety in Hospitals and Biosafety Issues, Modalities of Diagnostic Mycobacteriology and Role of Nurses in Infection Control. This latter followed with plenary lectures and free paper sessions for the attendees.-PR