CHILDREN HEALTHCARE CONGRESS GATHERS 500 PROFESSIONALS AND EXPERTS IN DUBAI

The 4th Arab Paediatric Medical Congress supported by The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention takes place until Saturday, 4th of March

On behalf of H.E. Dr. Yousif Al Serkal, Assistant Undersecretary 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 4th Arab Paediatric Medical Congress in Dubai today, with the support of the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention and the participation of more than 500 international and regional professionals and experts in children healthcare. The three-day event includes streams in paediatrics, neonatology, child nutrition and rare diseases.

During the opening ceremony he expressed that the Ministry is proud to support this congress as it has gathered regional and international professions to discuss the most important topics challenges faced, the latest advances in the management of children's healthcare, which is in line with the Ministry's efforts to improve child healthcare services.

The congress counts with the presence of relevant speakers such as Dr. Fatima Sultan Al Olama - Consultant and Head of Child Healthcare Unit, in DHA (Dubai Health Authority). Talking about Prevention of paediatric infectious diseases by vaccination, she said: " According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Each year, immunizations save an estimated 2.5 million lives from tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, measles, hepatitis B, and Hib (Haemophilus influenzae b) infections, Some of the most deadly childhood diseases that used to be common in this country and around the world can now be prevented by vaccination". She added: "" Thanks to a vaccine, one of the most terrible diseases in history – smallpox – no longer exists outside the laboratory".

Rare diseases is other of the main topics on the spotlight of this 4th edition. Dr. George Mazariegos, Professor of Surgery and Critical Care and Chief of Paediatric Transplantation, at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in the US, explains that “rare diseases affect 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 people affected by rare diseases are children, making rare diseases one of the most deadly and debilitating for children worldwide..” As such, he considers crucial paediatricians to continuously learn from each other to be able to provide the best treatment possible to children: “As more effective treatments become available, obtaining an early and accurate diagnosis will be even more crucial. Paediatricians can help in this process by recognizing early on the need for testing and referral to the appropriate specialist.”

On the nutrition front, Dr. Caroline Kanaan, Dietitian and Nutrition Specialist in the UAE, showed how nutrition therapy can play a huge role in improving autism spectrum disorders in children. “Kids with autism have a more compromised digestive system with severe leaky gut, sometimes undiagnosed food allergies, etc. Adapting an appropriate diet could help alleviate the disease severity, as well as the psychological and gastrointestinal symptoms. Using gluten free, dairy free, soy free, special carbohydrate diet, low oxalate and Feingold diets can be very effective”, she said.

The Arab Paediatric Medical Congress, running until Saturday at Conrad Hotel, also includes a series of workshops for health care professionals. The event, organized 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 Paediatric Society and Pediatric Society Palestine, and sponsorship of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in the United States, Pigeon Middle East and Olayan Kimberly-Clark.

For more information about the congress, please visit the website:
www.arabpediatriccongress.com

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