CMA

Summary of Upcoming Events

This conference, other than regional and special workshops and symposia for selected participation, is the biggest gathering of the CMA at which all member national medical associations in the Commonwealth are expected to attend. The last three were held as follows; Malaysia (2001), Ghana (2004), India (2007).

The 22nd edition with the theme “The challenges and prospects of managing infectious diseases” will take place in Mdina, Malta. The scientific sessions are particularly designed to focus on updating knowledge on modern trends of treatment and the public health challenges of four major diseases namely; Malaria, Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and H1 N1. The selection has been carefully done to reflect on some of Commonwealth’s main health challenges.

The sessions will review current treatments, identify microbial resistance problems and the current trends of anti-microbial regimens. It will also examine the state of the health of commonwealth nations with reference to these diseases, the impact on the health systems, and build consensus on managing major challenges such as stigmatisation in HIV/AIDS, enhancing the availability and affordability of approved medicines and advocacy towards increasing national budgets for health.

The conference seeks to address knowledge gaps in clinical care with presentations by expert facilitators and most recent scientific reports. It is also targeted at identifying and sharing knowledge on building capacities of doctors in the Commonwealth in meeting these threats. The activities will also empower the National Medical Associations particularly in their advocacy on Governments and related agencies in tackling the health challenges more effectively.

An added attraction of the conference will be the opportunity for the national medical associations to take part in the business meeting of the CMA leading to elections for the new Executive to steer the affairs of the organisation for the subsequent three years, 2010-2013.

The output of the conference such as the papers presented by experts, discussions, recommendations as well as the workshop assessment data will be available as evidence.

The outcomes in terms of knowledge shared and knowledge gained by participants at the various sessions and particularly during the discussions can be measured immediately after the event through an activity evaluation which will be done with a simple questionnaire.

As a follow-up to the conference, it is expected that National Medical Associations (NMAs) will share the information and knowledge gained with their members through continuing professional development programmes and also with the communicable disease control directorates of the Ministries of Health in the area of management of these infectious diseases.

These achievements can be monitored through clinical assessments in various hospitals and clinics and also individual members of NMAs and also by evaluating review of national drug and disease management policies over a period.

COMMONWEALTH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION 22ND TRIENNIAL CONFERENCE
THEME: “Management of Infectious Diseases – Challenges and Prospects”
NOVEMBER 11-14, 2010; Tal Qroqq, MALTA

PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME (OUTLINE)

DAY 1, NOVEMBER 11, 2010

• Registration 
• Official Opening 
• An Overview on the theme; Management of Infectious diseases-Challenges and Prospects

SESSION I: TUBERCULOSIS

• Tuberculosis: A global resurgence? 
• Modern trends of management of Tuberculosis

SESSION II: HEPATITIS AND OTHER SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES 

• An overview of treatment options 
• Using local culture to reduce STI’s

SESSION III – CHILDHOOD INFECTIONS & VACCINATION 

• An overview of common childhood infections 
• A critical appraisal of vaccination protocols

DAY 2, NOVEMBER 12, 2010

SESSION IV A: HIV/AIDS 

• An update of the global impact 
• Prevention, Treatment and Care for HIV/AIDS 
• Stigmatisation and Discrimination: Major challenges in the fight against HIV/AIDS

SESSION IV B: HIV/AIDS 

• Assessment and strategies for scaling up Anti-retroviral therapy in the
  Commonwealth
• A Commonwealth Revolving Fund For Anti-retroviral Drugs – What are the prospects

SESSION V: H1 N1

• The H1 N1 Pandemic- An Overview 
• A Clinical review of the Swine Flu

DAY 3 NOVEMBER 13, 2010

SESSION VI: MALARIA

• An increasingly global menace and the effects of climate change. 
• A review of current therapeutic options for Malaria 
• Malaria control and prevention: Strategies and prospects

SESSION VII 

• Prevention and control of hospital acquired infections - Modern protocols

BUSINESS SESSION 

• CMA Council Meeting 
• Review of CMA Strategic Plan 
• Election of Executive Officers for 2010-2013

DAY 4 NOVEMBER 14, 2010 

• Press Conference on Communiqué