FMIC Hosts International Paediatric Conference
December 12, 2012
View Gallery
The French Medical Institute for Children organized its second international paediatric conference at the Serena Hotel, Kabul in December 2012. The theme of the conference was “From Paediatric Care to Child Health” and offered a unique forum for both Afghan health care providers and international experts in paediatric care from Pakistan, France, Spain and Germany to share knowledge. Around 500 participants from all over Afghanistan attended the two-day moot.
Addressing the opening ceremony Chief Guest, the Minster of Public Health, Her Excellency Dr Suraya Dalil defined the organizing of the second international paediatric conference as an event of international standards. Dr Dalil further added that these kind of international conferences are very important to understand the health issues in Afghanistan and also learn from the experiences of different countries. She appreciated FMIC for providing excellent services to the Afghan nation and hoped that the relationship would continue to grow.
“This Conference confirms the function of the French Medical Institute for Children as a role model for Afghanistan health care and its role as centre of reference for paediatric care contributing in the reconstruction of the health system in Afghanistan”.
This year the Conference received considerable attention. Out of the 74 abstracts received, 50 were accepted for oral and poster presentations. At the conference, 34 oral presentations were made, while 16 poster presenters also displayed their studies.
Regional CEO, Health Services, Asia (AKUH, Pakistan and FMIC, Afghanistan), Nadeem Mustafa Khan said that this is a very special time for FMIC that we are moving in line with our common vision and all partners are pursuing this. The Aga Khan University is committed to continue its support for academic activities at FMIC and beyond.
Arnaud Dornon representative of the French Embassy said that French Government will continue support of FMIC’s academic activities and other programmes in Afghanistan. He also said added that these types of activities will help build local research capacities in paediatric care in Afghanistan.
Aziz Ahmed Jan CEO, FMIC thanked all participants for attending the Conference. “I feel happy and proud to see such events been conducted in Afghanistan, this is our combined success”, he said.
FMIC is the first international, philanthropic, public-private, not-for-profit health institution in Kabul, Afghanistan; established in 2005 by Enfants Afghans – a project of La Châine de L’Espoir, a French NGO, as a four party unique public-private partnership between the Governments of Afghanistan and France, a French NGO – La Chaîne de l’Espoir and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) through The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi (AKUH, K), FMIC is the first ISO 9001:2008 certified hospital in Kabul. Currently the hospital provides 85-bedded inpatient care for children, including 15 beds for paediatric intensive care, four operation theatres, a department of radiology which includes CT-Scan and MRI capabilities, a state-of-the-art laboratory, a 24 hour pharmacy service and outpatient services for the adult population in many medical and surgical specialties.