Sidra Hosts First Excellence in Paediatrics Conference in MENA

Doha, December 5 (QNA) Top medical professionals Thursday urged eliminating the threat of diseases by increasing the scope of child immunization and access to affordable vaccines to all populations at the First Excellence in Paediatrics Conference in MENA region. Sidra Medical Research Centre (SMRC) has collaborated with the Excellence in Paediatrics Institute to bring their flagship conference to the Middle East for the first time. Over 1,500 paediatrics experts from more than 90 countries are attending the conference that is discussing various issues and new trends to boost childrens healthcare globally at the Qatar National Convention Centre here. Sidras new Clinical Chief of Paediatrics Dr. Ziyad Hijazi is presenting one among such new techniques called Transcatheter Closure of Septal Defects in Children. In his inaugural address Sidra Chief Executive Officer Dr. William Owen said, "The common thread for us all is to achieve greatness by nurturing the potential of the individual. "Building the potential begins with creating and maintaining health among our children and for our children yet to be born, something that our keynote speaker has dedicated his career to -eliminating the threat of disease through prevention in the form of vaccination. "Vaccinations are the most cost effective and efficient measures for the prevention of infectious diseases. "In Qatar, childhood immunization coverage rates for polio, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and measles are over 90%, and have been so for the past 15 years." World Health Organisation (WHO) Co-ordinator for Programme and Impact Monitoring in the Department of Immunization, Vaccines, and Biologicals Dr. Thomas Cherian, in his keynote address at EiP, said, "If national governments act now 26 million deaths could be averted in the next decade through vaccination." Dr Cherian advocates political commitment and promoting country ownership of national immunization programmes to achieve this goal. He urged better governance, adequate investments, and a strong emphasis on evidence for prioritization and planning at the national level. Calling for promoting greater integration with broader health systems, Dr Cherian said, "While immunization already prevents millions of deaths and uncounted illnesses, we must continue working together in supporting countries to deliver life-saving vaccines to people in every community and in every country." Replying to a Qatar News Agency (QNA) question on the issue of affordability of large scale vaccines for developing countries and the criteria to select vaccine makers, Dr Cherian said, "The companies are selected through an open tender process. The WHO has an open and competitive approach to procurement of vaccines that allows for the economical purchase of products of assured quality originating from manufacturers all over the world." Developing countries depend on external support to finance their vaccination programmes. Recent data shows that on average the share of government financing of routine immunisation in these countries has increased from 35% to 39% between 2000 and 2008, according to the GAVI Alliance which saves childrens lives and protects peoples health by increasing access to immunisation in poor countries. "While immunization already prevents millions of deaths and uncounted illnesses, we must continue working together in supporting countries to deliver life-saving vaccines to people in every community and in every country. "Together, we can make the Global Vaccine Action Plan vision - a world in which all individuals and communities enjoy lives free from vaccine-preventable diseases - a reality," Dr Cherian said. Among other topics on the agenda at the conference are techniques for the repair of defective genes in children and understanding the social determinants of health outcomes. The experts will also find out how utero neurosurgical procedures can heal a damaged growing baby; learn how to encourage a reticent mother to breast feed her baby; see an imaging device that resolves biochemical pathways in the brain; and experience a premixed baby formula that is palatable and affordable. EiP is the first of many international-caliber events Sidra said it shall bring to Doha to ensure that best-quality education is available to all, which includes sponsoring a number of pediatricians from emerging markets to attend the events. (QNA)