Synopsis of 3rd Annual convention of the ANMF at Atlanta on June 9-10th, 2000.
Venue: Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Host: Bob Gerzoff, Ph.D., Epidemiologist, CDC.
Close to 40 attendees were at hand for the meeting in Atlanta. Program promptly began on Friday the 9th at 1.00 P.M. After taking tour of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) we had excellent presentation on polio eradication program in Nepal and influenza virus epidemics in Nepal. These programs were presented by the scientists at the CDC who had worked extensively in Nepal.
After dinner, attendees along with Board and Executive Committee members of the ANMF had an open and frank discussion on issue of ANMF extending its support to Kathmandu University Medical school (KUMS) project.
On 10th June, business meeting was promptly begun at 7.30 A.M. as scheduled and we were on time to begin the meeting at 9 A.M. after breakfast.
Our host, Bob Gerzoff, was at hand to welcome the participants which included two intensive care unit trained nurses from Nepal. On behalf of ANMF Bob thanked the dean of the Rollins School of Public Health for providing the facility for the meeting.
Dr. Janak Koirala read the message by the Royal Nepalese Ambassador to the U.S., His Excellency Mr. Damodar P. Gautam. Mr. Gautam in his letter applauded the effort of ANMF in enhancing the skill and upgrading the knowledge of the health care providers of Nepal through its various activities.
In his keynote speech, Dr. Kul C. Gautam, Deputy Director of UNICEF, highlighted many of Nepal’s achievements in the field of health care since 1960’s with extensive data. However he agreed much needs to be done in the field. He invited ANMF to join hands with UNICEF by developing projects to work to develop a "model district" which then may be emulated in other areas as well. Other areas to collaborate would be to work out with formulation of health care implementation policy in Nepal.
Prof. Donald Blair gave the overview of the ANMF and emphasized the need to shift its goal as to think in terms of needs, people specific rather than institute specific.
Prof. James Daniell, a pioneer in least invasive surgery for gynecological procedures, gave us a presentation on his work in Phaplu region. Prof. Daniell made a pledge to help with CME in future in Nepal and to run miniworkshops in minimally invasive procedure in gynecology in Nepal through his worldwide contacts.
Dr. Mark Zimmerman, director of Patan Hospital in Kathmandu gave a synopsis of hospital based health care in Nepal followed by the postgraduate training in medicine in Nepal. It was obvious form his talk that the progressive strides made in those areas since 1990 were very impressive.
Dr. Libby Wilson, plastic surgeon, who has extensive experience with working in Nepal on her various medical expeditions, presented a report by Dr. Shankar Man Rai. Dr. Rai’s paper: "Providing surgical services to the poorest of the poor of Nepal" was unique in that he has started to train local physicians to perform life saving surgeries at the District hospital utilizing personnel and materials available in regular hospital inventory. His report was highly informative.
Dr. Bhagwan Koirala, currently in advanced training for pediatric cardiac surgery at the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, presented his experience with cardiac surgery at the TU Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu. Level of sophistication and technology required for the surgery was obvious but the magnitude of rheumatic heart disease, causing severe morbidity in large number of young population, meant it needed to be addressed. His paper highlighted the need to develop the cardiac surgery in Nepal.
Dr. Gaury S Adhikary presented the paper by Dr. Arjun Karki "Kathmandu University Medical School: call for collaboration with ANMF". Through this paper Dr. Karki made it abundantly clear that the KUMS project is a non-profit organization being initiated by the Kathmandu University. He made an eloquent plea to help build the KUMS as a center of excellence for Medical education in Nepal.
Ms. Julia Shepardson presented the recent work with ANMF database and its possible utilities in future to develop project concept seeking funding from outside sources.
After lunch ANMF activities were presented in detail by Dr. Janak Koirala. CME activities were succinctly presented by Dr. Roshan Shrestha. He gave the update on future program as well. Feedback on CME from the local health care providers in Nepal end has been outstanding.
Dr. Sunil Sharma updated the issues with shipping of journals and other materials to TU Teaching Hospital.
Dr. Sanjaya Khanal made an excellent presentation about ANMF website <www.anmf.net >. This website is developed by Mr. Sanjeeb Khanal, ANMF’s webmaster.
Kristin Stueber presented the financial aspect of the foundation and suggested that ANMF may be in a position to help run some projects in Nepal.
Finally Dr. Adhikary thanked the host, Dr. Bob Gerzoff for his excellent management of the meeting, Kristine Gebbie for making the Nepalese nurses’ travel possible, and organizations that supported the meeting: America Home Products, Wyeth Ayerst, Meck and Co Inc., Guidant Corporation, Boston Scientific Scimed were similarly acknowledged for their generous help.
Before adjournment there was a short discussion concerning future projects of ANMF, including KUMS. It was decided to ask members of ANMF in Nepal to create a corresponding organization in Nepal which would be responsible for identifying and prioritizing needs in Nepal. The North American organization would in turn select from these proposed projects those that it felt it could best support. The Projects Committee will develop details for this procedure and present them to the Board and Executive Committee for review and approval.
Various sessions were moderated by Drs. Sunil Sharma, Sanjay Khanal, and Janak Koirala. Dr. Janak Koirala kept extensive notes on the meeting and a final version of the proceedings of the meeting will be published at a later date based on his notes.
Meeting was adjourned at around 3:30 P.M. and participants were totally upbeat about convention. Next year’s meeting will be held in Rochester, NY and will be hosted by our board member, Dr. Shyam D. Karki.
