Khartoum
is currently hosting an International Meet. It is the 25th World
Congress of Echinococcosis. This is also the 2nd African Regional
Hydatidology Congress. This Congress of International Association of
Hydatidology (IAH) is in collaboration with Cystic Echinococcosis Sub-Saharan
Africa Research Initiative (CESSARi) and Sudan Hydatid Society (SHS). The tops
scientists and researchers of Hydatidology are in the capital city of Sudan.
They are from more than 20 countries- Portugal, Germany, China, Australia,
Switzerland, Turkey, Uruguay, USA, Iran, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Kenya, UK,
Canada, Netherlands, Tunisia, Grenada, Pakistan and South Sudan.
This
Congress is being held at Friendship Hall from 23rd to 27th
November’13. It was inaugurated by the Vice President of the Republic of Sudan
H.E. Dr. AlHaj Adam. In his inaugural speech His Excellency welcomed all the
International delegates attending the Congress. He reassured them that Sudan is
a very safe country, contrary to what they may have thought or heard. He also
said that this kind of International Congress in Sudan will not only benefit
the people of Sudan but also the whole mankind. He regretted that US sanctions
in Sudan were not only economic but also scientific because the researchers in
Sudan are deprived of scientific papers but this kind of International
Scientific meet breaks open the wall of embargo.
Prof.
Mamoun Homeida the Health Minister of Khartoum State also spoke at the opening.
Welcoming the delegates he said that the world is united at this conference to
fight a disease. We were all busy in fighting against Malaria, HIV and TB and
there was a drift from the neglected tropical disease of Echinococcosis. To
fight this disease a partnership is required between the doctors of humans and
animals as well. He complemented Prof. Mohamed Elamin Ahmed for his work done
in the field of Hydatid cyst diseases in Sudan, being a Cardiac surgeon. Prof.
Mamoun Homeida also proudly announced the successful elimination of Onchocerciasis
(River Blindness) and Guinea Worm disease in Sudan.
Two
top names in this field attending this Congress are Professor Peter Kern from
Germany who is the President of WHO Informal Working Group on Echinococcosis
(IWGE) who is also the Chairman of the Scientific Committee at the Congress and
Professor Antonio Menezes da Silva from Portugal who is the President of
International Association of Hydatidology.
The
topics which will be discussed in the conference are Immuno-genetics of the
disease; population screening; surgery and non-invasive procedures; diagnostics
and challenges; prevention and control; and social and economical impact of
Echinococcosis.
The
term hydatid disease describes infection with the larval stage of Tapeworm
–Echinococcus species. Transmission is from eggs found in faeces of dogs and
accidentally swallowed, usually by children. The eggs develop over many years
to form fluid-filled cysts in various organs, particularly the liver. The term
Tapeworm describes a group of parasitic worms that live in the gut of animals,
including humans. These infestations are found worldwide. They can be caused
when humans consume raw or undercooked animal products that contain the worm
larvae. Humans also become infested after close contact with animals like cats
and dogs.
The
Congress Chairman Professor Mohamed Elamin Ahmed has also scheduled a visit for
the foreign delegates to the Kingdom of Kush to see Meroe dam, Jebel AlBarkal
and the pyramids in the area. They will also taste delicious Sudanese cuisine
of Kisra, Tamia and Asida.
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