Hundreds of doctors, scientists and researchers have gathered in Bali for the second national congress on tropical diseases.
The congress, held at Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel in Kuta from July 15 to July 17, was jointly organized by the Association of the Indonesian Researchers on Tropical and Infectious Diseases and the Association of Indonesian Migration and Travel Doctors.
“The congress is important and strategic for Indonesia, which is facing various tropical and infectious diseases,” said Tuti Parwati Merati, chairman of the organizing committee.
Bali is was one of the most vulnerable areas in Indonesia to such diseases, said Merati, a professor of tropical and infectious diseases at the Udayana University. “The island is struggling to contain several deadly diseases, including rabies, dengue and HIV/AIDS,” the professor said.
The congress was themed “Tropical and Infectious diseases: From Basic to Be Single for Better Comprehensive Management”.
Around 400 participants are now taking part in the three-day congress, which will discuss rabies, HIV/AIDS, influenza, dengue hemorrhagic fever and malaria.
“Recently, the problem of reemerging and emerging infectious diseases like rabies, bird flu, tuberculosis and chikungunya became a new challenge for clinicians,” she said.
Based on data at Sanglah Hospital, three to five of every 30 new patients treated in the infectious diseases ward were living with HIV/AIDS. The rest had tuberculosis.
Meanwhile, the University of Udayana stated it will start developing travel medicine.
“Travel medicine will become a prioritized program at the university’s medical school,” she said.
Approximately 2 million people from around the world come to Bali every month, posing major health risks to the holiday island.
“Travel medicine allows medical experts to deal with various health issues related to travel activities,” she said.
Foreign visitors coming to Bali must also receive clear and accurate information on various tropical diseases that they may encounter during their visit to the island, she said.
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