Fascinating speakers and an invitation for a sauna too!
Helsinki 2008
Vivienne Davies, one of two forum-sponsored members at NECTM2, sends this report.
I never win anything – that is, not until recently when I was lucky enough to have my name drawn out of a hat to attend the NECTM conference in Helsinki, courtesy of the RCN, together with another nurse from the forum, Trisha Crisp.
The programme looked interesting and included topics pertinent to the host country such as Arctic medicine. I was also excited at the prospect of networking with colleagues, extending my knowledge and seeing a bit of the city – a place I had never visited before.
Delegates came from 37 countries, but a large proportion of the 842 attending were from Scandinavia along with representatives from Russia. With the border of Finland so close to the Federation there are specific health problems associated with repatriation back to Finland in the event of an accident – the vagaries of Russian paperwork and access can make life difficult .There is only one infectious disease hospital – it’s called Botkins in St Petersburg and it has 1,200 beds to serve all of Russia!
A packed programme
The plenary sessions included global and environmental issues looking at the recent predicted changes in disease distribution. There is the excellent Geosentinel website which collects data allowing us to view the trends – measles in Croatia, for example. The year 2010 is the WHO European Goal for the elimination of measles and rubella.
One speaker who is always a pleasure to listen to is Professor Peter Chiodini who never fails to give a balanced presentation. In 2007 there were 1,139 cases of malaria imported to the UK with five deaths – 97 per cent of the cases were contracted in Africa. Plasmodium knowlesi, which originates in South East Asia, is often misdiagnosed as plasmodium malariae. It has a rapid onset – within 24 hours – and responds to chloroquine or quinine.
There was an update on the possibility of a malaria vaccine, but although the research is encouraging, the vaccine is still some way off.
The Finns are incredibly well organised. Saunas are a national obsession and we had the opportunity to sample one if we wished. We attended a reception at the magnificent City Hall and on the final evening, we were wined and dined and entertained at a hotel by a lake – a perfect conclusion to an excellent conference.
I learned a great deal and I feel very fortunate to have had this opportunity – it could be you next time so keep your eyes out for details of how to apply!