Report on the 7th World Congress of the World Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases

The executive committee of the Asian Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the WSPID 2011

         The 7th World Congress of the World Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (WSPID) was held at Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia from November 16-19, 2011 with 1,700 participants from over 90 countries.

         The opening ceremony took place on the evening of 16th November, 2011 with a greeting and welcome by Dr. Shabir Madhi, President of the WSPID; Dr. Andrew Pollard, Chairperson of the international scientific committee; Dr. David Isaacs Chairperson of the local organizing committee followed by the Australian girls’ choir.

         The scientific program started in the morning of the 16th November, 2011 and went on until the 19th November, 2011. Four hundred and fifty two abstracts were submitted, some were selected for oral poster presentation. At the closing, awards were given to the best poster and the best photography competition followed by indigenous dancers and didgeridoo.

         The scientific program included vaccines, respiratory infections, gastroenteritis, antibiotic resistance, emerging infections, viral infections in children – evidence based management, serious infections in children, group A streptococcal infections, dengue. Kawasaki disease, molecular approaches to diagnosis in host and bug, neonatal infections. Educational workshop for fellows, the regional societies symposia from Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, North America and Latin America, consensus symposia on the diagnosis and treatment of invasive fungal infections in children and neonates and pediatric UTI - management and prevention in 2011, the world lecture on immunity to influenza and the following 9 meet the professor sessions: tuberculosis, how to write a paper, otitis media, meningitis, pediatric HIV, infection control, gastroenteritis, rapid diagnostic/point of care diagnosis, vaccine safety.

         The 7th World Congress of the WSPID brought together members of national and regional societies in pediatric infectious diseases worldwide in exchanging ideas, sharing new methods of prevention and treatment and breakthroughs, most of all it creates the worldwide partnerships that can cross borders not only to specialists, practitioners, researchers and scientists, but also to the patients as well.

         The next World Congress of the WSPID will be held in Cape town, South Africa in 2013.

Professor Usa Thisyakorn, M.D.
President, International Society of Tropical Pediatrics
President, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society of Thailand
Secretary General, Asian Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases

       Congratulations to Prof. Usa Thisyakorn, the President of the PIDST / advisor of the TCISTP as the President of the International Society of Tropical Pediatrics( 2011-2014)

       Professor Usa Thisyakorn, President of the ISTP handovers the ISTP’s flag to Professor Fred Were, the President of the 10th ICTP at the closing ceremony of the 9th International Congress of Tropical Pediatrics at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center on October 20,2011.

       Congratulations to Prof. Usa Thisyakorn and Assoc Prof. Tawee Chotpitayasunondh, the consultant of TCISTP for the Outstanding Senior Pediatrician Award , in the 50th Anniversary of the Pediatric Society of Thailand, October 05, 2011.

 Brief Report on the Third Asian Vaccine Conference (ASVAC) 2011

         The third Asian Vaccine Conference (ASVAC) 2010 with the theme “ Accessibility, Affordability & Accountability” organized by Indonesian Pediatric Society, Asian Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (ASPID), International Society of Tropical Pediatrics – Philippines (ISTP-Ph) Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV), and Asian Strategic Alliance for Pneumococcal Disease Prevention (ASAP) was held at Gran Melia Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia from July 28-29, 2011 with Professor Sri Rezeki S. Hadinegoro as the over-all chair. Many distinguished international speakers were invited as well as members of the ASAP, the EPI and National immunization program managers of many Asian countries and the leaders of the three organizing societies, ASPID, ISTP-Ph and PFV. There were 500 participants from several countries mainly from Asia.

         The ASVAC 2011 highlights the most cost-effective public health interventions-Immunization, when considering hard-to-reach populations in particular and the introduction of new vaccines. There are constraints however, ranging from low coverage of immunization in the developing world and sustainable adoption and financing of new vaccines. To reaffirm commitment for intensifying efforts to sustain current achievements and achieve universal coverage of routine immunization and in line with the global agenda, South-East Asia region will be declaring 2012; The Year of Intensification of Routine immunization.

         The Scientific Program comprised Plenary, and Symposium sessions covered the global immunization challenges from vaccine development to implementation of immunization. Vaccine communication and advocacy were also addressed.

         The ASAP Board meeting was held on the 30th July, 2011 and there was an unanimous vote for the new executive ASAP board members with Professor Zulkifli Ismail for the Chair, Professor Usa Thisyakorn for Co-Chair and Dr. Daniel Goh for treasurer. Following the ASAP board meeting, visiting Bio Farma, Bandung was successfully organized by Professor Cissy B. Kartasasmita. Since its establishment in 1890, Bio Farma has been active in supplying high quality vaccines and serum for people. The need for EPI vaccines in Indonesia has been supplied solely by Bio Farma.

         The next ASAP symposium entitled “Update on Pneumococcal Disease Prevention: What all Clinicians Need to Know” and the ASAP board meeting will be held on the 20th October, 2011 during the 9th International Congress of Tropical Pediatrics (ICTP) at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok, Thailand.

Professor Usa Thisyakorn, M.D.
President, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society of Thailand
Secretary General, Asian Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Board member, World Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases
President, the 9th international Congress of Tropical Pediatrics 18-20, October, 2011, Thailand