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HISTORY OF APSSEAR / APPA
(continued)
The Congresses continue
to bring together Asian pediatricians and has generally grown in
size through the years with innovative modifications introduced to
keep its relevance and meet the needs of both pediatricians and
children of Asia
APSSEAR’s inaugural congress, The First Asian Congress of Pediatrics
was held in Manila, Philippines from April 30-May 4, 1974.
It was hosted by the Philippine Pediatric Society with the theme:
“Towards Optimum Health for Asian Children”.
The Congress was warmly acclaimed as a landmark in the development
of Pediatrics in the South-East Asian Region. This success had
encouraged the Association to go ahead with plans for the next
triennial Congress.
To date, 11 Asian Congresses of Pediatrics had been held and all
were concluded with great success.
The latest Asian Congress of Pediatrics (the Eleventh), was held in
Bangkok, Thailand from November 2-7, 2003. The theme chosen:
“Towards Unity for Quality Child Health” focused on the need for
joint efforts of professionals to ensure quality health care for
children.
In addition to the fascinating Asian Congresses of Pediatrics, there
were excellent Pre-congress Workshops jointly organized by IPA,
APSSEAR, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and arranged by the hosting member society.
These workshops were usually concluded with Resolutions being
released on various aspects of child health. There were also
Post-congress Workshops focusing on different pediatric problems.
Besides these Congresses and Workshops, keeping Asian pediatricians
close to each other has also been attained by the unfailing, regular
quarterly publication of the APSSEAR’s Bulletin where one gets to
know what is going on in Asian Pediatrics.
A priority project since the start of the organization, the Bulletin
serves as a strong link among members in between Congresses. Aside
from featuring the latest in pediatric happenings in and out of the
region, the APSSEAR Bulletin publishes resolution emanating from
pediatric workshops and honors pediatricians in its section on
“Leaders in Asian Pediatricians.”
It also encourages the publication of research findings, studies and
other activities as well as information crucial to the needs of
children and pediatricians.
Apart from that, Fellowships for young Pediatricians have also been
established through APSSEAR by:
· The Division of Paediatrics, Royal Australasian College of
Physicians - an annual Fellowship for a duration of 12 months
· Malaysian Paediatric Association – an annual Fellowship lasting 6
months to be taken in Malaysia, which started since 1998.
· Taiwan Pediatric Association – an annual Fellowship lasting 6
months in Taiwan. It started since year 2001.
And true to its mission, APSSEAR created Working Committees:
1. Injury and Injury Prevention
2. Child Abuse and Neglect
3. Rights of Child
4. Childhood Gastroenterology.
After 30 years of existence, it can be said that APSSEAR has
successfully brought the leading practitioners of Paediatrics in the
region closely together.
To reflect more appropriately the geographical situation of all the
countries represented in the organization, the name Association of
Pediatric Societies of the South-East Asian Region (APSSEAR) was
changed to the Asian Pacific Pediatric Association (APPA) in 2003
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Announcement |
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APSSEAR
(Association of Pediatric Societies of Southeast Asian Region) is
now known as APPA (Asian Pacific Pediatric Association)!
This
move was decided at the meeting of the Council in Bangkok, Thailand
in November 2003. The change is to truly reflect the composition of
the member societies.
With
this, the webpage which was previously at apssear.com have now
shifted to its current site http://www.appassoc.org
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