RCPSG Triennial Conference
6–7 November 2008
Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow Triennial Conference included the Faculty of Travel Medicine (FTM) Symposium on Travel Medicine and I write this hotfoot from that exciting two-day event. Both days were well attended with almost 600 registered delegates and the conference was addressed by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.
The RCPSG is unique in including physicians, surgeons and dentists within its membership and, more recently, through the FTM nurses have also been admitted.
The RCN Travel Health Forum poster was on display, highlighting our work. Overall the presentations were extremely varied and delivered by experts in the field. I won’t try to explain those from other fields of practice, but you will find them on the website.
The FTM Symposium
This focused on South East Asia with experts addressing issues affecting travellers there. Danny Quah, Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science, gave a fascinating insight into the “economic power house” of South East Asia. He showed the way in which economic development in the area has led to changing dynamics in trade, tourism and health care.
In China, for example, economic growth in the 1960s was around five per cent per annum – by 2006 it had grown to 23 per cent. Professor Quah questioned the sustainability of this level of growth, given that new legislation on the workforce was being introduced.
Olympian efforts to impress
Dr Susan MacDonald went on to discuss the impact of the Beijing Olympics on travellers’ health. Susan is a Canadian who has lived and worked in many countries around the world and is currently based in an international hospital in Beijing so she was well placed to see the preparations and developments for the 2008 Games.
She discussed the concerns about pollution in Beijing as voiced by the international communities and how the situation was addressed by closing factories and halving the number of vehicles on the roads – millions, that is! Many local villages were demolished to make way for the construction of Olympic venues, including the main “Birds Nest” stadium, and on completion the workers, mainly migrants brought in to do the job, were returned to their home countries.
The Chinese Government issued many instructions including “how to queue” and “no spitting”. These were enforced during the event, but the signs came down and citizens reverted to their old ways when the games were over.
Professor Ernie Gould from Oxford University looked at the threat of arboviruses in SE Asia while Dr Colin Sutherland from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSTMH) explained his research on why SE Asian malaria parasites are so drug-resistant.
Professor Chris Whitty from LSTMH who chairs the National Expert Panel on New and Emerging Infections addressed conditions travellers to the area may be exposed to and resulting illnesses which need to be considered and diagnosed on return home.
In the footsteps of Livingstone
The Livingstone Lecture was given by Professor David Molyneux who is based at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine – a fascinating presentation entitled The control of neglected tropical diseases: Challenges, opportunities and success in the footsteps of Livingstone.
He highlighted diseases like oncocirrciasis, which Livingstone had described, and showed a pyramid containing millions of tsetse flies which had been trapped. His take-home message was that many diseases which are easily prevented or treated at little financial cost are being neglected.
Pharmaceutical companies are becoming involved in supporting disease eradication by providing drugs at low cost. The Millennium Development Goals (MDG) which address malaria, HIV and tuberculosis have given major funding and focus for these diseases to the neglect of others, more easily eradicated and life-changing for the people affected.
The FTM Annual Meeting concluded the session with Vice Dean Dr Jonathan Cossar ending his tenure of office and Professor Peter Chiodini being appointed Dean Elect and Vice Dean for the year 2008/09.
Extremely adventurous
The conference ended with a plenary session by Dr Mike Stroud: From ice to dust – taking medicine to extremes took us on a journey of his adventures in extreme environments around the world.
Together with Sir Ranulph Fiennes he walked across Antarctica without the help of animals or machines. This was a remarkable achievement illustrated by scientific graphs of the endurance of the human body – some of which defied belief that he was still alive, far less functioning!
His photographic account of running seven marathons in seven days on seven continents showed what a remarkable man he is and the millions of pounds raised for charity is a lasting legacy.
As ever with Scottish hospitality, there were a few late nights and humorous speeches culminating in the Conference Ball held in the beautiful surrounding of the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. All the great worthies of the medical establishment were there and the dancing went on ‘til the wee small hours.
The FTM members from England, Norway and South Africa did a sterling job on the dance floor and “Strip the Willow” took on a new, never to be forgotten life of its own. If you missed it, do try to get there next time!
Sandra Grieve