Intro 1: India is hosting the IPA Congress for the first time in 46 years.
Intro 2: Dr Naveen Thacker, renowned paediatrician from Gandhidham, will take over as President of International Pediatric Association during the IPA Congress.
Intro 3: Over 6,000 paediatricians from across India and around 500 delegates from around the world are taking part in the conference.
Ahmedabad: The 30th International Pediatric Association Congress (IPA Congress) and the 60th Annual Conference of The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (PEDICON) will take place at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar from February 19 to 23.
What makes the upcoming conference all the more special is that India is hosting the IPA Congress for the first time in 46 years. It is being held in Gujarat for the very first time. 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. 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,” said DrBakul Parekh, President of IPA Congress 2023.
“The 30th IPA Congress and 60th PEDICON will be the largest event of its kind in Gujarat and will see the participation of more than 6,000 paediatricians from across the country and over 500 delegates from other countries are taking part in the conference. We look forward to the learnings at the conference and implement them to ensure better paediatric care,” said Dr Naveen Thacker, who will take over as President of International Pediatric Association during the Congress.
DrChetan 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.”
Some of the topics to be discussed at the sessions from February 20 to 23 include oxygen therapy in newborns, neuroprotection 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.
DrSoumyaSwaminathan, Chief Scientist at the World Health Organization and editor of prestigious medical journal The Lancet will attend the IPA 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 pediatric 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.
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 pediatric 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.
Established in 1963, the Indian Academy of Pediatrics has 40,000 member paediatricians with branches in 30 states in five zones across the country. IAP is celebrating its 60th year as Diamond Jubilee year.
During the 60th PEDICON, DrUpendraKinjwadekar will take over as IAP President along with DrVineetSaxena as the Honorary Secretary General.
