The International Society for Paediatric Diabetes in Children and Adolescents
Dear Colleagues,
The International Society for Paediatric Diabetes in Children and Adolescents (ISPAD, www.ispad.org) is a professional organisation for doctors, nurses, and other health professionals working in diabetes in young people. It has always been a strong supporter of the Life for a Child Program (LFAC). ISPAD conducts an annual scientific meeting which provides great opportunities for learning, networking with friends and colleagues, and sharing ideas. Many LFAC centres are represented each year, along with numerous country mentors.
This year, the annual meeting was held for the first time in South Asia - in Hyderabad, India, with its exciting and vibrant culture.
More than 1100 delegates participated with over 300 representing India. Various LFAC-supported centres sent representatives and there were also numerous LFAC country mentors in attendance, and so Graham and Angie had many productive meetings with colleagues.
Dr Holley Allen, from the USA, organised a meeting of all five 5 Nepalese centres, together with the Diabeter team from Rotterdam who, in addition to Holley, have visited Nepal regularly. This was especially useful in deciding the way forward for us to help Nepal, and planning a workshop for 2019.
Other productive meetings were held with our colleagues from Bangladesh, India (Kota, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Visakhapatnam, and Belgaum), Kenya and Haiti. There were oral and poster sessions from a number of these countries.
A position Statement on “Diabetes in School” was also introduced by Angie Middlehurst, and her co-chair, Dr Peter Goss. Angie spoke at a plenary session, “Reaching the Disadvantaged” on the topic which was very well received by the audience: www.ispad.org/news/420540/ISPAD-Position-S
Graham presented a paper on behalf of the Mexican LFAC centres and Hannah Bartley (a University of Wollongong student who is helping LFAC): Clinical characteristics of diabetes among children and adolescents in Mexico”.
During the meeting, Professor Kim Donaghue of Westmead Children’s Hospital in Sydney became the ISPAD President for 2018-2020. Dr. Ragnar Hanas (on the LFAC Steering Committee) is a Past-President, as is Professor Martin Silink, co-founder of LFAC.
ISPAD offers a discounted membership to health professionals from less-resourced countries – we do encourage you to consider joining: www.ispad.org/page/ISPADMembership
As an ISPAD member you will become part of the worldwide network of paediatric diabetes experts. You would also receive access to the journal “Pediatric Diabetes”.
The ISPAD Membership year runs from July 1 to June 30 of the following year.
The next ISPAD conference is in Boston, USA in October 30-November 2 2019.
