- Volume 65 , Number 2
- Page: 268–70
News and notes
This department furnishes information concerning institutions, organizations, and individuals engaged in work on leprosy and other mycobacterial diseases, and makes note of scientific meetings and other matters of interest.
Hungary. International congress on tuberculosis to be held. The International Congress on the Evolution and Paleoepidemiology of Tuberculosis will be held on 4-7 September 1997 in Szeged. The meeting will bring together specialists in human paleopathology, paleoepidemiology, medical history, radiology, pneumology, medical diagnostics, mycobacteriology, epidemiology and microbial evolution.
Scientific program: Plenary sessions,symposia, poster presentations.
Topics: Evolutionary biology of mycobacterial pathogens; biology and epidemiology of tuberculosis; diagnosis of tuberculosis in past and present populations; paleopathology and paleoepidemiology of tuberculosis; medical history of human tuberculosis; sociological and anthropological approach of tuberculous infection; the evolution of mycobacteria: ancient and recent patterns.
Language: English.
Deadline for abstract and registration: 31May 1997.
Information: Judith Deak and György Pälfi, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical Uniical history, P.O. Box 482, H-6701 Szeged, Hungary. Fax: 36 62 310 981/36 62 454 314. E-mail: palfigy@bio.u-szeged.hu/deak@mlab.szote.u-szeged.hu.-Materials From Dr. György Palfi
India. BLP 1997 Antileprosy Week Activities. Health education activities for the 1997 Antileprosy Week (30 January-5 February) by the Bombay Leprosy Project (BLP) included the following:
BLP Deputy Director Dr. V. V. Pai was lauded for his work in the field of leprosy and for assisting the National Leprosy Eradication Program on 4 February 1997 at the function held at Acworth Municipal Leprosy Hospital in Wadala.
Nepal. 1996 International Course on Rehabilitation and Prevention of Impairment and Disability in Leprosy. From October 28 until November 18 1996 we conducted the first International Course on Rehabilitation and Prevention of Impairment and Disability (POID) in Leprosy at our Green Pastures Training Center in Pokhara. Twenty experienced professionals From six countries contributed to the course as teachers and facilitators. The contributions made by NSL and the Gastmann-Wichers Stichting to enable, respectively, Dr. Margreet Hogeweg and Dr. Wim Brandsma to be teachers of the course is gratefully acknowledged. The 16 participants From Nepal and India represented no less than nine nationalities. Their professions varied From medical doctors via social scientists to rehabilitation workers. The multidisciplinary nature of the participant group fulfilled an important aim of the course. As one participant said during the closing ceremony: "One of the main things I learned during this course is that rehabilitation is team work!"
The curriculum was based on the concepts of the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps, published by the WHO in 1980. Following an overview of relevant anatomy and (patho)physiology, the course addressed treatment and prevention of impairments, prevention of disabilities and handicaps (the social consequences of impairment or disability), and rehabilitation of people with disability or handicap. This included teaching and practice on nerve function assessment, impairment grading, eye, hand and foot examination, disability assessment, psychological assessment and socio-economic assessment. Recording, reporting, monitoring and evaluation of POID activities was also covered, using the ILEP guidelines. The teaching program aimed at knowledge as well as skill acquisition. Half of the available time (56 hours) was therefore spent in practical sessions in the Training Center, Green Pastures Hospital or Socio-Economic Services program.
Throughout the course the participants worked in multidisciplinary groups on a plan for an RPOID program for their own area of work. These assignments, together with the results of a written exam, formed the basis of the course examination. Feedback From participants and facilitators was very positive, indicating that the course met a real need in training in the field of rehabilitation. It was therefore decided to run the RPOID course again in 1997.-Materials From Dr. Wim Brandsma
1997 International Course on Rehabilitation and Prevention of Impairment and Disability in Leprosy. Green Pastures Training Center in Pokhara will be the site of the 1997 International Course on Rehabilitation and Prevention of Impairment and Disability in Leprosy From 10 November to 12 December (5 weeks).
Target group: Doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, managers of RPOID programs, and senior hospital staff and senior leprosy control staff responsible for RPOID activities. Experience in leprosy work will be an advantage, but is not essential.
Teaching/learning methods: Lectures, group discussion, group assignments, individual assignments, practical work in small groups, problem-based learning, self study, presentations, and simulation exercises. The teaching medium is English.
Expected course fees (including board and lodging and field trip): NRs 27,500 (~$500).
Detailed information can be obtained From: The Training Officer, GPTC, P.O. Box 28, Pokhara 33701, Nepal.
+977 61 20342; fax +977 61 20430; E-mail: lp@inf.wlink.com.np.
Spain. 1997 Fontilles' cursos. XXXIV Curso Internacional de Leprología Para Médicos organizado por el Sanatorio San Francisco de Borja de Fontilles y patrocinado por la Asamblea Española de la Soberana Orden de Malta con la colaboración de la Conselleria de Sanidad y Consumo de la Generalitat Valenciana Servicio de Dermatología del Hospital Universitario de Valencia Profesores de Dermatología de las Facultades de Medicina. El XXXIV Curso tendrá lugar en el Sanatorio de Fontilles desde el 3 al 8 de noviembre de 1997, dirigido por el doctor J. Terencio de las Aguas, Director Médico del Sanatorio.
XL Curso Internacional de Leprología Para Misioneros, Diplomados en Enfermería, Quixiliares Sanitarios y Trabajadores Sociales organizado por el Sanatorio San Francisco de Borja de Fontilles y patrocinado por la Asamblea Española de la Soberana Orden de Malta con la colaboración de la Conselleria de Sanidad y Consumo de la Generalität Valenciana Profesores de Dermatología de las Facultades de Medicina. El XL Curso tendrá lugar en el Sanatorio de Fontilles desde el 6 al 18 de octubre de 1997, dirigido por el doctor J. Terencio de Aguas, Director Médico, Sanatorio San Francisco de Borja, 03791 Fontilles (Alicante), España.