November 14, 2024, The French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children (FMIC) proudly hosted its 14th Annual International Scientific Conference and Quality Convention on Thursday, November 14, 2024. The event centered around the theme “Improve Together: Accessibility, Quality, Innovation, and Sustainability."
The day began with a spiritual ambiance, marked by the recitation of Quranic verses by Dr. Nijatullah Safi. Dr. Najmuddin Najm, Chairman of the FMIC Board and the AKDN coordinator for Afghanistan, welcomed attendees and highlighted FMIC's pivotal role in assisting low-income patients and providing telemedical care to remote regions. He pledged to triple FMIC's treatment capacity by 2030.
His Excellency Shaikhu-al-Hadith Neda Mohammad Nadeem, Acting Minister of Higher Education, commended FMIC's dedication to hosting international-standard academic conferences and maintaining high service quality. He emphasized the importance of continuing efforts in accessibility, quality, innovation, and sustainability, while ensuring that poor families benefit from FMIC's services. He concluded by expressing gratitude for FMIC's quality healthcare services for the Afghan people.
Mr. Bakht-ul-Raman Sharafat, the MoPH representative, expressed appreciation for FMIC's commitment to academic conferences. He hoped that the research and unique findings presented by talented doctors would lead to further innovation in Afghanistan's health sector. He emphasized that studying, thinking, research, and innovation are key to success.
Dr. Eric Cheysson, President of La Chaîne de l'Espoir (CDE), praised FMIC's adoption of innovative technologies, such as thoracoscopic surgery, to save children's lives. He noted that since 2006, FMIC has provided care to over 2 million patients from all Afghan provinces and assured that La Chaîne de l'Espoir would continue its support.
The keynote speech by Dr. Saleem Virani, vice provost, global research at AKU, emphasized the role of universities in creating, preserving, and disseminating knowledge, and most importantly, in creating hope. He highlighted the importance of conferences that bring researchers together to achieve common goals and praised FMIC's efforts, stating, “It matters what you do, so do what matters."
Mr. Nadeem Mustafa Khan, an FMIC board member, underscored the importance of creating and sharing knowledge, which FMIC has been doing since 2011. He noted that FMIC provides care to over 200,000 patients annually and conducts more than 7,000 treatments through its telemedicine programs. He urged the Afghan government to create an enabling environment for FMIC to advance in healthcare, sustainability, and innovation.
Mr. Aziz Ahmad Jan, CEO of FMIC, who attended virtually, presented the closing message of the conference and thanked the guests and participants. He mentioned that 128 abstracts were submitted, with 44 accepted for oral presentation and the rest as posters. He suggested separating the quality convention from the scientific conference for greater efficiency.
Dr. Sarfaraz Karim, Head of NICU at FMIC, presented his innovative work on neonatal respiratory distress. Parallel sessions covered topics in public health and communicable diseases, reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health, nursing, quality and patient safety, and non-communicable diseases.
