The French Medical Institute for Children (FMIC) organized its Fourth International Conference, “Strengthening Academics and Health Services in Developing Countries in Transition” at the Kabul Medical University Auditorium on 23-24 October, 2014.
The Minster of Public Health, Her Excellency Dr Suraya Dalil, was Chief Guest for the opening ceremony, while the Minister of Higher Education, His Excellency, Professor Obaidullah Obaid was Chief Guest for the closing ceremony. More than 500 participants from all over Afghanistan attended the two day moot and listened to presentations by Afghan healthcare experts and researchers. International experts from Canada, Pakistan, United States of America, Luxembourg, France and Germany also shared their experiences at the Conference. Dr Wasim Jafri and Dr Saeed Hamid from Aga Khan University Pakistan and Dr Sylvain Chauvaud, from European Hospital George Pompidou, France were the key note speakers at the Conference. The Conference was also telecast live to Aga Khan University in Karachi from where many participants presented their papers online.
In her opening remarks, Her Excellency Dr Suraya Dalil, Minister of Public Health, said that the Conference provided a good opportunity for healthcare providers in Afghanistan to learn from international best practices and stated that close cooperation between the Ministry of Public Health and FMIC strengthens the medical network between Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Middle East. She also added that statistical research and observation is effective for providing quality health services and suggested the continuation of such conferences for the professional development of healthcare providers. She also assured her full support for the expansion programmes of FMIC.
His Excellency Professor Obaidullah Obaid, Minister of Higher Education expressed his happiness at the Conference not only being organized at Kabul Medical University but also at having a number of participants and presenters from the University. He recommended holding such academic conferences in universities and stated that we look forward to hosting the 5th FMIC International Conference as well at Kabul Medical University. He also suggested awarding prizes for the best presenters in his remarks while addressing the closing ceremony.
The Conference aimed to improve knowledge among healthcare providers (doctors, nurses and allied staff) in this transitional and post conflict context, to learn what we have achieved in the last 10 years especially in the field of healthcare. This year the Conference received considerable attention. Out of the 108 abstracts received, 44 were accepted for oral and 40 for poster presentations. The Fourth FMIC International Conference provided a wide range of sessions covering all aspects of public health and health system in transition, maternal and child health, including surgery and anaesthesia, diagnostics, orthopaedics, quality and patient safety and cardiology.
Also attending were Dr Najia Tariq, Deputy Minister of Public Health; Her Excellency Ms Nurjehan Mawani, Diplomatic Representative of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN); Mr Arnaud Dornon, Head of Cooperation at the French Embassy; Ms Phedra Moon Morris, Head of Cooperation, Embassy of Canada; Mr Shair baz Hakemy, President, Afghanistan National Council; Ms Sophie Tran, Afghanistan Country Coordinator of La Chaine de L’ Espoir; Ms Melanie Boyd, Director Policy Partnership Aga Khan Foundation; Dr Shafiq Mirzazada, Chief Executive Officer Aga Khan Health Services Afghanistan; General Suhaila, former Minister of Public Health; Ms Fatima Gilani, Head of Afghan Red Crescent Society and Dr Hashmatullah Nawabi, Director of Ghazi Amanullah Khan Hospital.
Stalls displayed by the radiology, nursing and laboratory departments of FMIC drew healthy interests from the Conference participants. The Conference was covered well in the local media with over 18 media groups covering the event locally and internationally attended the conference.
Each year FMIC also organizes international medical/health conferences to facilitate knowledge exchange among health care professionals in Afghanistan. To date FMIC has organized three such Conferences, i.e., ‘Paediatric Care in Afghanistan’ on February 26-27, 2011; ‘From Paediatric Care to Child Health’ on December 1-2, 2012 and ‘Moving towards Quality Healthcare for Mother and Child’ on 5-6 October, 2013.
In the last eight years, FMIC has introduced advanced techniques in paediatric care, such as paediatric cardiac, spinal and laparoscopic surgeries for children. In 2009, the services of the FMIC were certified as compliant with ISO 9001:2008 standards; the hospital is also the hub for telemedicine in the country and the region, providing services to hospitals in Bamyan, Faizabad and Kanadahar in Afghanistan and Khorog General Oblast Hospital in Tajikistan.
