India’s 6,000 pediatricians and 500 delegates from abroad to discuss share and decide on the state of child health at International Pediatric Congress in Gujarat

India hosts the 3oth IPA Congress and 60th PEDICON in Gandhinagar from February 19 to 23

Dr Naveen Thacker, renowned paediatrician from Gandhidham, will take over as President of

International Paediatric Association during the IPA Congress

BILKULONLINE

Ahmedabad, Feb 17: After 46 years, India is going to host the 30th International Paediatric Association Congress (IPA Congress) and the 60th Annual Conference of The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (PEDICON) at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar from February 19 to 23.

Providing details of this distinct assembly of professionals of child care segment of medicine,  Dr Bakul Parekh the Organising Chairperson said “the theme of the IPA Congress is ‘Quality Care for Every Child, Everywhere’  It is a matter of great pride for us that the 30th IPA Congress and the 60th PEDICON are taking place in Gandhinagar, Gujarat for the first time”.

Dr Chetan Trivedi, President Academy of Pediatrics, Gujarat, and Organising Secretary of IPA Congress and PEDICON 2023, said, “The conference will be inaugurated on February 20. A day earlier 26 programs, including six pre-conference workshops and 10 training modules will be organised in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar on diverse topics such as climate change and child health, Covid-19, antimicrobial resistance and infectious diseases, childhood vaccination, how to prevent environmental hazards that harm children, adolescent health in pediatric settings, preventing the obesity epidemic, and many more. Around 1,000 noted paediatricians and representatives from health organisations will speak on various topics.”

Dr Upendra Kinjawadekar will take over as the President of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics for 2023 at the Conference along with his team of Dr Vineet Saxena as Honorary Secretary General, Dr Samir Dalwai as Treasuer and other Office Bearers of the Academy with 4000 member paediatricians across India.

Dr Santosh Soans, the Scientific Chairperson informed the media that “. The conference is being organised in a unique hybrid mode – with a physical conference coupled with unparalleled online learning and interaction. We are confident that the conference will provide a great learning opportunity to our members and delegates and allow them to discuss critical issues, the latest advancements in the field, and expand their knowledge”.

Addressing a media conference said Dr Naveen Thacker, who will take over as President of International Paediatric Association during the Congress said “ the 30th IPA Congress and 60th PEDICON we look forward to the leanings at the conference and implement them to ensure better paediatric care,”.

“Some of the topics to be discussed at the sessions from February 20 to 23 include oxygen therapy in newborns, neuro-protection in asphyxiated newborns, immunisation dialogue, future of DNA vaccines, complex TB cases in children, emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, changing the HPV landscape with indigenous vaccine, adolescent health programs, management of persistent and recurrent pneumonia, screen time, drug allergy, growth and behaviour, and more” added Dr.Thacker..

Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist at the World Health Organization and editor of prestigious medical journal The Lancet will attend the IPA Congress. 

Dr Vineet Saxena and Dr Chetan Trivedi will be the Organising Secretaries of the Congress.

“The Congress will bring together nationally and internationally renowned paediatricians under one roof and shed light on various topics including new research, innovations, advanced technologies, advanced medical equipment, challenges facing the paediatric field and their solutions. It will also showcase the latest innovations, new technologies, cutting-edge tools and equipment from the medical field from around the world at the Innovation Hub. Giving a major boost to the Make in India initiative, the country’s capabilities in advanced equipment, molecules, inventions and research in medical ethnology will also be showcased at the conference” Dr Saxena explained.

More than 10,000 delegates are expected to attend the conference every day. The online broadcast will allow over 20,000 doctors from around the globe to participate simultaneously in the conference. Due to the difference in time zones, the eight hours of programs on each day will be broadcast twice on the same day, ensuring no doctor misses out on the learning.

A “Run for Seven” event has also been organised on February 19 to create awareness about the seven major rare diseases. The event has been organised in collaboration with the Organization of Rare Diseases of India (ORDI).

The IPA exists to build a world where all children, regardless of age, residence or family situation, can lead healthy lives. For more than 100 years, IPA is the only global organisation representing the professional society of paediatricians and become a globally respected voice in the international health community. It advocates globally, nationally, and locally for high-quality, evidence-based, and child-centred paediatric care. IPA is a partner of WHO and UNICEF and provides global leadership on emerging child health issues through its work with leading global health organizations. IPA represents paediatricians from more than 149 of its more than 164 member countries, enabling them to work together to improve the physical, mental and social health and well-being of all children from birth to adolescence. IPA represents more than one million paediatricians, who save lives and improve the health of more than one billion children.