India 8 September 2016: The first ever Asia Pacific Congress on Diabetes, Hypertension & Metabolic Syndrome in Pregnancy, has commenced today at Sri Lanka (Sept 8th to 10th)
Over 350 delegates from the South Asia, Asia Pacific Region and other countries around the world have arrived for the conference organized by the South Asia Initiative for Diabetes in Pregnancy (SAIDIP) and the DIP Asia-Pacific Symposium on Diabetes, Hypertension, Metabolic Syndrome and Pregnancy (DIPAP).
Bengaluru-based renowned ObGyn and a thought leader in Women's healthcare, Dr. Hema Divakar, Co-Chair of the FIGO HIP Working Group and Past President of FOGSI (The Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology Societies of India (FOGSI) is one of the symposium presidents at the conference. Dr. Hema, who played a pivotal role in steering the focus of the Indian government towards women’s healthcare, especially improving and strengthening maternal care, shared the Indian Scenario and Experience which is critical for the success of the conference and it’s objectives in Asia.
His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Dr Rajitha Senaratne, Honorable Minister of Health & Indigenous Medicine addressed the participating countries at the opening ceremony, today 8thSept 2016, at Colombo.
The Congress supported by the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, the World Health Organization (Sri Lanka Country Office) and the World Diabetes Foundation will feature talks from renowned international and regional experts including the incumbent presidents of The International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FIGO), International Diabetes Federation (IDF), and Chairman World Diabetes Foundation (WDF).
Addressing the inaugural day of the Conference in Colombo, Dr. Hema Divakar said, “More than half of the people with diabetes live in just 8 low and middle-income countries: China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Mexico and Nigeria; they also account for over half the global live births and many of them fare poorly on the issue of maternal and child health. The fact that three of these are in South Asia highlights how important this issue is for the region and DIPAP – SAIDIP, 2016 will be addressing various related issues in the remaining 2 days of the conference.”