Seminar on Parasitic Infections in East Coast 2018
1st October 2018, Kubang Kerian - Seminar on Parasitic Infections in East Coast Malaysia: current status on prevalence, diagnosis, management and related issues
In line with the efforts of the Malaysian Government to improve public health in the East Coast of Malaysia, a national Seminar on Parasitic Infections in East Coast Malaysia: current status on prevalence, diagnosis, management and related issues was successfully held at the Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Health Campus on 1st October 2018. It was an honour for INFORMM to collaborate with the Malaysian Society of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (MSPTM) in organizing this event. We also received support from Ministry of Education Malaysia under the HICoE program.
The main objectives of this seminar were to foster mutually beneficial relationships and networking across institutions nationwide as well as at the individual level, enable a wider outreach of knowledge and increase collaborative research for a more effective control of parasitic infections in East Coast of Malaysia.
The content-rich seminar was interesting and inspiring for the participants, especially the young scientists. The up-to date information on disease prevalence, diagnosis, management and related issues, combined with the delivery by prominent scientists and professionals in the field created an effective learning opportunity for our seminar participants.
Eleven distinguished speakers shared their valuable research and other experiences on the topics associated with parasitic infections with special reference to issues related to the East Coast of Malaysia. The team of speakers comprised Professor Dr. Rahmah Noordin (Director of INFORMM, USM), Dr. Sam Mohan (Vice President of MSPTM), Prof. Dr. Zeehaida Mohamed (Head of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, USM), Prof. Dr. Wan Kiew Lian (Faculty of Science and Technology, UKM), Prof. Dr. Imad Ibrahim Ali Al-Sultan (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UMK), Prof. Dr. Yvonne Lim Ai Lian, (Deputy Dean of Research, Faculty of Medicine, UM), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lim Boon Huat (School of Health Sciences, USM), Dr. Nurul Faizah Zainal (Section Head, Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Kuantan), Dr. R. Shamilah R. Hisam (Head of Parasitology Unit, IMR), Dr. Ahmad Syaarani Md Yasin (Principal Assistant Director, Vector Borne Diseases Unit, Public Health Division, Kelantan) and Dr. Zulkarnain Md Idris (Faculty of Medicine, UKM).
The seminar was well attended with more than 85 participants, including clinicians, veterinarians, university lecturers, industrial entrepreneurs and postgraduate students. They came from 17 institutions namely USM, Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), Institute for Medical Research (IMR), Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Kota Bharu Medical Centre Sdn Bhd (KBMC), Makmal Kesihatan Awam Kota Bharu (MKA KB), Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab 2 (HRPZ 2), Institut Latihan Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (ILKKM), International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Klinik Projek D'raja Kelantan, V Care Klinik Haiwan, Pusat Ternakan Haiwan Jelai Gemas and Klinik Ramli, Bachok, Kelantan.
The success of the seminar augurs well for future planning of a bigger scientific event in the East Coast.
