NEWS & REPORTS
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 11TH MALAYSIAN FAMILY MEDICINE SPECIALIST CONFERENCE 2007
I Mastura, MMed (Fam Med UM), Klinik Kesihatan Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan.
Address for correspondence: Dr Mastura Ismail, Family Medicine Specialist, Klinik Kesihatan Kuala Pilah, 72000 Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan. Tel: 06-4842844, Fax: 06-4842846, Email: drmi68@yahoo.com
Mastura I. Highlights of the 11th Malaysian Family Medicine Specialist Conference 2007. Malaysian Family Physician. 2007;2(3):131-2
The 11th Malaysian Family Medicine Specialist Conference was held from 8-11th August 2007 at the Putrajaya Marriot Hotel, Putrajaya. The conference was officiated by Datuk Dr Hj Abd Latif bin Ahmad, Deputy Minister of Health Malaysia. The conference was well attended - over 200 participants from all over the country. The theme for this year conference was “Sexual And Reproductive Health For All: Current And Future Challenges”. The conference was co-organized by the Family Medicine Specialist Association Malaysia and Jabatan Kesihatan Wilayah Persekutuan, Kuala Lumpur. There were pre-conference symposium conducted one day earlier covering topics on Sexuality Education: What, When, Who and How to approach? and Overview of Women & Children Sexual and Reproductive Rights: Legal perspective.
The first plenary of the day was given by Datuk Dr Hj Ramle bin Haji Rahmat, Deputy Director, Ministry of Health on Sexual Reproductive Health And Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): The Cross Linkage. MDGs were set at the United Nations Millennium Summit with the aim to offer better opportunities for people around the globe, through a framework and global partnership for progressive eradication of poverty in all its dimensions. These goals are: (i) Eradicate poverty and hunger; (ii) Achieve universal primary education; (iii) Promote gender equality and empower women; (iv) Reduce child mortality; (v) Improve maternal health; (vi) Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other disease; (vii) Ensure environmental sustainability; (viii) Develop a global partnership for development.
Later there were concurrent symposiums, in Symposium 1, Dr Mohd Rushdan Md Noor, Consultant Gynae-Onchologist from Hospital Alor Star, spoke on HPV Infection In Women And Vaccine. He highlighted that incidence of cervical cancer in developing countries is not decreasing despite Pap smear screening program. Primary prevention using HPV vaccine is promising. Then Dr Sasheela Vanar, Infectious Disease Specialist from UMMC, spoke on HIV Care In Women And Children.
For Symposium 2, the speaker was Dr Prashant Nadkarni, an Obstetrician & Gynaecologist from KL Fertilty, who discussed in detail about Infertility Management. This was followed by Prof Thong Meow Keong, a Geneticist from UMMC, who spoke on Pre-Marital Screening - Is Genetic Disease A Concern. Participants were exposed on accepted criteria used for screening, genetic conditions requiring screening and the methods of pre-marital screening.
The next speaker for Symposium 3 was Dr Soon Ray, a Consultant O&G from Hospital Likas who spoke on Cervical Cancer Screening Options. Followed by Prof Yip Cheng Har from UMMC who spoke on Update On Breast Cancer Screening. During Symposium 4, Dr Premitha Damodaran, a Consultant O&G from Pantai Medical Specialist spoke on Update Of HRT And The Menopause Women. Folowed by, Dr Zaiton Ahmad, Family Medicine Specialist from UPM, who spoke on Intimacy And Spouse Relationship Among The Older Person.
The Plenary 2 was Gender And Reproductive Rights by Assoc Prof Noor Aziah Mohd Awal, from Faculty of Law, UKM, and later followed by Symposium 5, Assoc Prof Shaiful Bahari Ismail from Department of Family Medicine, USM, sensitised participants’ to Symptomatic Late Onset Hypogonadism (SLOH) among men. He described the common symptoms, investigations required for diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of this disorder.
During Symposium 6, Assoc Prof Aili Hashim, a Child Psychaitrist from UMMC, spoke on How To Deal With The Sexual Abuse Victim. She enlightened the audience on what is helpful (and unhelpful) in dealing with this group of clients. This was followed by a symposium on Teenage Pregnancy given by Madam Rodhiah Zakaria, a Social Worker from UMMC. She discussed on counselling services which need to focus on helping client to cope and make adjustment in life and role of parental involvement.
Ms Leong Huey Mei spoke on Sexuality Dysfunction followed by Prof Loh Wah Yun who spoke on Sexuality Post Operation during Symposium 7.
Symposium 8, an Update In Contraception was given by Dr Wan Zahanim Wan Yusof, Consultant O&G from Hospital Tuanku Zainab II, Kota Bharu. The participants were exposed to the current contraceptive methods. She also discussed about the facts and myth about contraception. It was followed by Dr Soon Ray lecture on How To Deal With Unplanned Pregnancy.
The programme remained lively on the final day. From as early Saturday morning until midday the participants were fully occupied. During Plenary 3, the audience listened to Assoc Prof Harlina Siraj who spoke on Adolescent Reproductive Rights In Malaysia. In Plenary 4, Dato’ Dr Ravindran Jegasothy spoke on Adult Reproductive Rights.
Dr Tunku Nor Taayah Tunku Zubir, a Consultant Rehabilitation Physician from Gleaneagles Intan Medical Centre, spoke on Sexuality Issues Among The Disabled. She also discussed on steps, methods of treatment and alternatives to sexual function. This was followed by Dr Fauzi Ismail, Child Psychiatrist from Selayang Hospital, who spoke on Sexual Health In Children With Special Needs.
In the afternoon, during Symposium 10, there were another 2 topics given by Assoc Prof Harlina Siraj who spoke on Advocating Rights for Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights in the Context of Islam and Culture. The last speaker was Datuk Dr Mat Saad Baki from Subang Jaya Medical Centre who spoke on Issues of Sexual Health in the Marginalized Groups.