KARACHI, Dec 9: The Pakistan Paediatric Association Sindh is planning to hold its 16th international biennial paediatric conference, “optimising child-care with resource constraints”, here from February 14 to 17.

The organisers have invited over 30 renowned clinicians and scientists in paediatrics to the event. An ambitious scientific programme would be an integral part of the four- day conference, with tremendous opportunities for junior medical scientists.

Topics to be discussed would not be merely restricted to physical illnesses of children but will also include problems of those children affected by drought in Sindh, child rights, child labour, recent vaccination strategies, would be raised on the occasion.

Themes to be highlighted during the scientific session would include: children in emergency situation, including refugee population; drought situation; cutting-edge technology in neonatal care and nutrition and other paediatric sub- specialities.

Update lectures by international and national speakers are part of the elaborate scientific programme.

Prizes for the participants with a major provision for young doctors and scientists will be another important segment.

Four parallel workshops on integrated management of childhood diseases, community-based newborn care, research methodology and child abuse in Pakistan are further planned for the four-day exercise.

Paediatricians, junior doctors and medical students willing to participate in the scientific sessions have been advised to send their abstracts before December 15 on the following e-mail addresses: dsakramchk@ yahoo.com / ppa2k2@yahoo.com / zulfiqar.bhutta@aku.edu . They may also visit website: http://www.pakistans.net/ppa

Abstracts may also be dispatched to the conference secretariat:1/1B,Taj Medical Complex, M.A.Jinnah Road, Karachi- 74200, Pakistan or/ and Scientific Secretariat: Department of Paediatrics, Aga Khan University, P.O.3500, Stadium Road Karachi, Pakistan.

All those interested in participating the planned poster contest and debates may also seek information on Ph: (92 - 21) 9215720, 7782200, 5881799 and 4930051.—APP