RIYADH: The second KSA ID Week will see medical experts from around the world descend on Riyadh to discuss the latest developments in fighting infectious diseases.
Due to take place from Nov. 4 to 6, the gathering will involve specialists exploring cutting-edge education on the subject, and sharing knowledge on science, policy, and practice.
The program will include topics such as vaccine-preventable diseases, HIV and sexually transmitted infections, antimicrobial resistance, microbiology, infectious diseases, and pediatric infectious diseases.
Majid Al-Shamrani, executive director of the infection prevention and control program at King Abdulaziz Medical City within the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, and chairman of KSA ID week, said: “Infectious and communicable diseases have continued as a global concern throughout the years; however, interest increased during and after the coronavirus pandemic.
“With more than 700 million infected and about 7 million deaths worldwide, nobody was expecting such a disaster that led the whole world to lockdown and stop all regular activities.
“Now, we have returned to normal, and COVID-19 is not anymore a public health emergency of international concern, but that memory will continue to teach us that sustainable preparedness and readiness for infectious emergencies is vital and not a luxury,” Al-Shamrani added.
Mohammed Al-Zunitan, deputy executive director of the infection prevention and control program at King Abdulaziz Medical City, said: “Saudi infectious diseases week this year focuses on the global pandemic of antimicrobial resistance, identifying potential alternatives for the antimicrobials, and exploring our contribution to the AMR global research agenda.
“We will highlight the latest updates in rapid diagnostics, point-of-care testing, and new molecular techniques. We will shed light on the endemic infectious diseases in our region and diseases with increased risk for spread and complications,” he added.
Fayssal Farahat, director of the community and public health within the infection prevention and control program at King Abdulaziz Medical City, said: “Two state-of-the-art post-conference workshops will provide hands-on training for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, microbiologists, and epidemiologists — the antimicrobial stewardship program and the infection control surveillance.
“We believe that the KSA ID Week is an opportunity to share knowledge, meet experts, and collaborate with researchers and scientists, and we believe it is an important step in our sustained journey toward optimal preparedness and readiness in the fight against microbes.”
