4TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BIRTH DEFECTS & DISABILITIES IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD

Invitation

With the substantial control of infections and nutritional disorders, birth defects have emerged as a major global cause of death and disability. Every year an estimated 7.8 million children are born in the world with a serious genetic or acquired birth defect. Of these 3.3 million die each year. The impact of birth defects is particularly severe in developing countries where 90% of births and 95% of deaths of children with serious birth defects occur. The conference is timely as most developing countries lack comprehensive programs for care and control of birth defects, either because their importance is underestimated or because they perceive lack of resources. This conference will demonstrate why both these notions are incorrect.

In recent years there have been significant advances in understanding the causes of birth defects, and application of this knowledge has led to the development of many strategies to help and improve the quality of life of those experiencing birth defects. There are many low-cost and effective strategies for preventing or ameliorating birth defects. This conference will present successful models from around the world, as illustration of approaches that can be selected by developing countries as best suited for their specific circumstances.

The theme of the 4th Conference therefore, is aptly “ Translating Research into Care and Prevention.”

The conference is unique because it will bring together the various stakeholders– health professionals, social workers, patient/parent organizations, young volunteers, administrators, policy makers and the public health community. It will cover many aspects of birth defects such as surveillance programs and registries; major risk and preventive factors; individual and community-level prevention strategies, including micronutrient fortification and immunization programs and preconception health and healthcare; care and counseling of common birth defects and genetic disorders; rehabilitation and rights of the disabled and legal frameworks for their protection.

There will be non-competing plenary sessions that will present the important advances and successful models of care and prevention in this field. These will be followed by symposia, workshops and free paper sessions. “Meet the Experts” sessions addressing such topics as neural tube defects, oral facial clefts, hemoglobinopathies, muscular dystrophy, hemophilia, mental retardation, cerebral palsy and autism will be organized by the interested parties and presented prior to the Conference.

This International Conference is sponsored by the March of Dimes, NY, USA; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA; and the National Institute of Health, and has the active support of Ministries of Health, Social Welfare, Science and Technology, and Biotechnology of the Government of India and the Indian Council of Medical Research.

Please join us for this unique conference to share critical information on medical, social and community aspects of the care and prevention of birth defects. The conference is set amongst the spectacular sights and sounds of Delhi, a city that represents an amalgam of cultures, culinary arts and creative energy. You are in for an unforgettable experience, both scientifically and socially. Don’t miss it.
 

I.C. Verma	M. Katz
(Chairman, Executive Committee) Sr. Consultant & Chairman Dept. of Genetic Medicine Sir Ganga Ram Hospital New Delhi – 110060, India	(Secretary, Executive Committee) Senior Vice President for Research and Global Programs March of Dimes Foundation 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue White Pains, NY 10605, USA