Report of Activities 2005-2006

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Report of activities 2005-2006

The Commonwealth Association of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (CAPGAN) has continued its work to promote knowledge of, and training in, paediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, with a particular focus on the problems of childhood diarrhoea and malnutrition in developing countries. CAPGAN also emphasises the importance of advocating for the welfare of children.

CAPGAN’s 8^th Congresses on Diarrhoea and Malnutrition was held on 6-8^th Feburary, 2006 in Dhaka, Bangladesh at the Centre for Health and Population Research. The Theme was " Combating Manutrition and Intestinal Diseases in Children :Are we doing enough ?" with the aim of addressing leading causes of child morbidity and mortality. It was extremely well organised by Prof David Sack and Dr. Tahmeed Ahmed and their colleagues and was a highly successful event with over 500 participants from all around the Commonwealth including many of the top experts and those working at grass root level . 249 papers were presented and discussed and have been published including some practical guidelines. There was much press coverage and an editorial in the British Medical Journal.

The Congress was supported by a range of organisations including the Health Ministery of Bangladesh, World Health Organisation, DFID, Aus AID, UNICEF, Concern worldwide and Commonwealth Secretariat In addition, and in contrast with similar academic meetings, there has been an emphasise on child advocacy and discussion of some of the external political and social factors that contribute to childhood diarrhoea and malnutrition.. As paediatricians, we have a duty to protect the rights of children living in poverty and to speak out clearly when we see that they are endangered At this Congress Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta who gave a very moving lecture on his involvement in the aftermath of Pakistani earth quake took over as future President of CAPGAN.

CAPGAN is an associate member of the Federation of International Societies of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (FISPGHAN). As part of the organisation of this, CAPGAN members reviewed abstracts, participated in the Working Group reports, and contributed to academic papers on HIV infection; persistent and chronic diarrhoea and malabsorption; obesity in children and adults; and malnutrition. Dr David Brewster (Dean of a Medical school in Fiji and incoming Secretary of CAPGAN) has coordinated a working group to look at ethics particularly in relation to research. Dr Brewster made a presentation on "The Ethics of doing Research" at the Dhaka meeting. CAPGAN will be involved in Working Groups for 3^rd World Congress of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil in August 2008. It is planned that CAPGAN will organise a Satellite Workshop on "Financing Children’s Vaccines". A joint ( Malawi and S Africa ) practice based workshop on maternal and child nutrition issues is being organised for 2007 .CAPGAN members continues to be involved in many activities related to Maternal and Child Health through out the Commonwealth

CAPGAN Executive and Council members

President : Zulfiqar Bhutta (Karachi, Pakistan)

President-elect : Bhupinder Sandhu (Bristol, UK)

Secretary : Dr. David Brewster ( Fiji)

Treasurer : Alan Phillips

Organisers of 8th Commonwealth Congress, Dhaka 2006 : Prof David A Sack and Dr Tahmeed Ahmed

Council members

AUSTRALIA : Louise Baur; David Brewster; Geoff Davidson; David Forbes

BANGLADESH: Talhmed Ahmed; Swapan Roy

CANADA: Decker Butzner

HONG KONG, CHINA: Tony Nelson

INDIA: Neelam Mohan; Santosh Mittal; Ashok Patwari; Anupam Sibal

MALAWI: Mark Manary

NIGERIA: Raphael Oruambo

PAKISTAN: Iqbal Memon; Zulfiqar Bhutta

SINGAPORE: Quak Seng Hok

SOUTH AFRICA: Dankwart Wittenberg; Nigel Rollins

UNITED KINGDOM: Mamoun Elawad; Barbara Golden; Alan Phillips; Bhupinder Sandhu

ZAMBIA: Beatrice Amadi

Questions or comments to info@capgan.org or Fax: +852 26360020 or Tel: +852 26322861

Last modified: March 29, 2006