Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the 30th Congress of the International Pediatrics Association (IPA Congress) and the 60th Annual Meeting of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (PEDICON) in Gandhinagar.
Honorable Chief Minister of Gujarat Mr. Bhupendrabhai Patel, Principal Organization Secretary Dr. Vineet Saxena, IPA Congress President Dr. Bakul Parikh, Chairman of Satkar Committee. Raju C Shah, IPA 2022 President Dr. Ramesh Kumar, IPA elected President Dr. Naveen Thakkar, IPA 2023 President Dr. Upendra Kinjavdekar, President Prof. Enver Hasnoglu, IPA 2024 President Dr. G.V. Dr. Basavaraja, Chairman of Satkar Committee, Uday Bodvankar, and Organizing Secretary Chetan Trivedi, among other dignitaries and pediatric experts from India and abroad were present in large numbers.
The Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel expressed the clear opinion that the theme of this conference being held with the theme of ‘Quality Care for Every Child, Everywhere’ is that Gujarat has realized the holistic healthcare approach of children and informed that our future generation, bright tomorrow, should be treated by keeping the children healthy. Government of Gujarat School Health- Intensive implementation of the National Child Health Program provides free health check-up to approximately one and a half crore children every year. Not only this, 3.6 lakh doses of P.C.V. vaccine, which protects small children from pneumonia, have been given free of cost to 1.3 lakh children in the state.
IPA Congress 2023 President Dr. Bakul Parekh expressed heartfelt thanks to Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel and other dignitaries who were specially present at the inauguration of the convention and said, “Being elected the first Indian as the President of the International Pediatrics Association, a 112-year-old organization with membership of 164 National Pediatric Societies from 149 countries representing more than 10 lakh pediatricians. I feel very humbled. The history of the IPA is the history of pediatrics and I understand the responsibility and legacy it carries, which I have to carry forward. As India holds the Presidency of the G20, I extend my support to achieve the objective of finding practical global solutions for the well-being of all to manifest the true spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or ‘The World is a Family’. I look forward to working with the Government of India and look forward to receiving equal support from the Government of India for IPA’s child health interventions globally.”
Highlighting the importance of the convention, Dr. Sameer Dalwadi said, “Gujarat hosting the 30th IPA Congress and the 60th Pedicon Convention is a great honor for all pediatricians. This program will enable pediatric specialists of Gujarat and India to be aware of international standard pediatric treatments, its challenges and advanced technology in this field. This conference will take India to a higher level by addressing the many challenges of child health. International level pediatrics experts and organizations are present here, in which in some talents like Prof. Joy Lawn (UK), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Dr. Nick Brown (Sweden),Editor Chief, Archives of Disease in Childhood, Pediatrician, Epidemiologist, Dr. Anshu Banarjee (Switzerland),Director, Department of Maternal, New Born, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Esther Lau (UK), Deputy Editor, The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, Dr. James Blanchard (Canada), Professor and Executive Director, Institute for Global Public Health, University of Manitoba, Dr. Zulfiquar Bhutta (Canada), Professor & Chair Global Health & Policy Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children are included.
The 30th IPA Congress and 60th Pedicon, the largest event of its kind to be held in Gujarat, will see the participation of more than 6,000 pediatricians from across the country and more than 500 delegates from other countries are participating in the conference. It will bring together nationally and internationally renowned pediatricians under one roof, highlighting various topics including new researches, innovations, advanced technologies, advanced medical equipment, challenges facing the field of pediatrics and their solutions. It will also showcase innovations, new technologies, state-of-the-art tools and equipment. Giving a big boost to the Make in India initiative, the country’s capabilities in research in advanced equipments, molecules, inventions and medical anthologies are also being showcased at the conference.
