Medical Congress emerges from Windhoek basement

HIV-AIDS will take centre stage at the biggest medical congress and medical trade exhibition which will be held at Swakopmund from August 26 to 28.

For the first time in 26 years. the annual Medical Congress of Namibia will take place outside the capital.For the past 25 years the congress has taken place in the basement of the Windhoek State Hospital.The Erongo Region has taken up the challenge to change the format of the congress and breath fresh life into it.”The reaction has been overwhelming,” said Dr Matti Kimberg, Chairperson of the congress, at a media conference on Tuesday night.According to the organisers, around 200 delegates are expected, as well as 29 international speakers from the United Kingdom, Malawi, Belgium and South Africa.Namibian experts will also address the congress.Kimberg said it was unfair to only point fingers at governments regarding the HIV-AIDS pandemic.”Every single person has a responsibility and a duty,” he said.According to the congress programme three speakers will focus on this topic.John Ngolombe, the Deputy Mayor of Swakopmund, also stressed the effect of HIV-AIDS on development.He said the Bangkok conference estimate of 15 million AIDS orphans in the world today made it a personal problem for everyone.Other subjects covered by speakers will include cardiology, sexology, gynaecology, obstetrics, anaesthetics, paediatrics, neuropsychiatry, urology and orthopaedics.Kimberg said it was important for an event of this nature to discuss issues facing medical practitioners.These include equitable medical care for everybody, the HIV-AIDS pandemic that is draining budgets and resources, the dilemma of consolidating medical education and standards in a country without a medical school, the future of medical aid, the ease with which doctors can emigrate and the empowerment of patients through knowledge gained from the Internet.The congress has also attracted 53 exhibitors to make it the biggest pharmaceutical trade exhibition ever held in the country.”We would like to see this congress grow to become a leading event on the medical calendar in southern Africa,” said Kimberg.the annual Medical Congress of Namibia will take place outside the capital.For the past 25 years the congress has taken place in the basement of the Windhoek State Hospital.The Erongo Region has taken up the challenge to change the format of the congress and breath fresh life into it.”The reaction has been overwhelming,” said Dr Matti Kimberg, Chairperson of the congress, at a media conference on Tuesday night.According to the organisers, around 200 delegates are expected, as well as 29 international speakers from the United Kingdom, Malawi, Belgium and South Africa.Namibian experts will also address the congress.Kimberg said it was unfair to only point fingers at governments regarding the HIV-AIDS pandemic.”Every single person has a responsibility and a duty,” he said.According to the congress programme three speakers will focus on this topic.John Ngolombe, the Deputy Mayor of Swakopmund, also stressed the effect of HIV-AIDS on development.He said the Bangkok conference estimate of 15 million AIDS orphans in the world today made it a personal problem for everyone.Other subjects covered by speakers will include cardiology, sexology, gynaecology, obstetrics, anaesthetics, paediatrics, neuropsychiatry, urology and orthopaedics.Kimberg said it was important for an event of this nature to discuss issues facing medical practitioners.These include equitable medical care for everybody, the HIV-AIDS pandemic that is draining budgets and resources, the dilemma of consolidating medical education and standards in a country without a medical school, the future of medical aid, the ease with which doctors can emigrate and the empowerment of patients through knowledge gained from the Internet.The congress has also attracted 53 exhibitors to make it the biggest pharmaceutical trade exhibition ever held in the country.”We would like to see this congress grow to become a leading event on the medical calendar in southern Africa,” said Kimberg.