Arab Paediatric Medical Congress discusses best practices

More than 500 international and regional professionals and experts in children's healthcare gathered in Dubai for the 4th Arab Paediatric Medical Congress on Thursday.

The event aims at discussing the latest and best practices in the field of children's healthcare and conduct of workshops on digestive disorders and functional management, learning difficulties and disorders of the nervous system, prevention and control of infections in neonates, screening and diagnosis of congenital heart disease in the early postpartum period and the latest technology for the same.

On behalf of Dr. Yousif Al Serkal, Assistant Under-Secretary for Hospitals, United Arab Emirates, Ministry of Health and Prevention, Dr. Yasser Alnuaimi, Consultant Paediatrician, Expert Advisor, Hospital Sector, UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, opened the three-day event that would discuss paediatrics, neonatology, child nutrition and rare diseases.

Dr. Alnuaimi remarked the ministry was proud to support the congress which would see the best regional and international professionals discuss the challenges in their fields, and the latest advances in the management of children's healthcare, in line with the ministry's efforts to improve children's healthcare services.

Dr. Fatima Sultan Al Olama, Consultant and Head of Child Healthcare Unit, Dubai Health Authority, said, "According to the World Health Organisation, each year, immunisations save an estimated 2.5 million lives from tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, measles, hepatitis B, and Hib (Haemophilus influenza b) infections. Some of the deadly childhood diseases that used to be common in this country and around the world can now be prevented by vaccination. Thanks to a vaccine, one of the most terrible diseases in history – smallpox – no longer exists outside the laboratory."

Rare diseases was another major topic at the event. Dr. George Mazariegos, Professor of Surgery and Critical Care and Chief of Paediatric Transplantation at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in the US, revealed that rare diseases affected approximately 350 million people. "Over 7,000 distinct rare diseases exist worldwide and approximately 80 percent are caused by faulty genes. Nearly 50 percent of the people affected by rare diseases are children, making rare diseases one of the deadliest and the most debilitating for children worldwide.

"As more effective treatments become available, obtaining an early and accurate diagnosis will be crucial. Paediatricians can help in this process by recognising early the need for testing and making timely referral to the appropriate specialist."

On the nutrition front, Dr. Caroline Kanaan, Dietitian and Nutrition Specialist in the UAE, discussed how nutrition therapy could play a huge role in improving autism spectrum disorders in children.

The Arab Paediatric Medical Congress, which will continue until Saturday, will also hold a series of workshops for healthcare professionals.

The event, organised by Maarefah Management, has the support of renowned institutions such as, the College of Natural and Health Sciences – Zayed University, the Saudi Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, the Bahrain Medical Society, National Neonatology Forum of India, Lebanese Pediatric Society and Pediatric Society - Palestine, and the sponsorship of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in the United States, Pigeon Middle East and Olayan Kimberly-Clark.