Muslim medical professionals hold Annual International Scientific Conference

The Kenya Association of Muslim Medical Professionals (KAMMP) recently held their 4th Annual International Scientific Conference at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Nairobi.

The conference served as a major milestone in addressing emerging trends and challenges in the healthcare sector as well as those specific to the Muslim Medical Professionals.

Themed ‘Ethical and efficient delivery of quality healthcare in the pandemic era; Focus on innovation and collaborative networking,’ the two-day conference underscored the importance and the role played through collaboration between various stakeholders, both from clinical and non-clinical fields.

The event was timely, as the country is slowly going back to normalcy following the Covid-19 global pandemic that has in one way or another revolutionized the healthcare sector.

Speaking during the official opening of the conference, the Chief Guest, Ahmed Dagane, the Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital CEO, representing Health Chief Administrative Secretary Dr. Rashid Aman praised the organization for its role in founding the National Muslim Covid-19 response Committee (NMCRC) and the continuous efforts in providing outreach programs to the community.

He called upon the professionals to offer solutions to healthcare challenges and drive the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda forward.

Since its establishment in 1998, KAMMP has been conducting countrywide outreach trainings, sensitizations as well as free medical and surgical camps, including having the first ever laparoscopic surgery done at the Dadaab refugee camp through their free refugee outreach program.

“The Ministry of Health is working round the clock to ensure the UHC model launched by the President is replicated across all the 47 counties, for we know a healthy nation is a wealthy nation,” Mr. Dagane said.

Dr. Abdallah Bajaber, KAMMP Secretary General, highlighted the effort the association has put in addressing health challenges of the community as well as during the pandemic.

“You all remember since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, KAMMP has not only participated in the Muslim consultative meetings with different stakeholders, including the religious Inter-Faith Council, which oversaw safe reopening of mosques, but also developed guidelines on safe handling of the deceased, home based care and isolation,” he said.

Dr. Bajaber also called upon the incoming government to accelerate the implementation of the Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC) and look into communities that suffer most from lack of quality, affordable healthcare services.

The inception, innovation and sustainability of the UHC program was largely addressed by representatives from the Ministry of Health, the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as an Islamic scholar in an interactive panel discussion.

Addressing the participants on the role of professional mentorship in medical practice, Dr. Sylvia Shitsama, a neurosurgeon and lecturer at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, affirmed that there is need for doctors to accelerate mentoring of the young professionals joining the practice as one way of building capacity to handle health challenges.

Mental wellbeing, especially of the medical professionals was largely addressed in a panel discussion with various experts including mental health experts (psychiatrists and psychologists) as well as shared Covid-19 experiences from an interventional cardiologist, Dr. Mohamed Jeilan.

Dr. Nabila Amin, Consultant Psychiatrist and KAMMP Nairobi branch Secretary General, emphasized the need for keeping mental health refreshed and re-energized.

She emphasized the need for consistency and moderation in anything one aspires to do, so that everything is done at measured parameters.

“You look at the results and review the steps taken differently so that you change them if they didn’t work out. The perception, the thinking and the emotional solving that find ways of how the emotions are solved. Humor plays a part in neutralizing the effects of stress. Sometimes you want to laugh and make some jokes that release stress,” noted Dr. Amin.

A highlight of the conference was the unique skills workshop where experts demonstrated basic skills such as reading of ECGs, Point of Care ultrasound, CVC Insertion and Basic Life Support Skills.

Day two started with a talk on ‘Extravagance in Medicine’ by consultant pediatrician Dr. Adil Waris, followed by a panel discussion led by renowned medical oncologist Dr. Sitna Mwanzi who addressed the gaps and challenges in cancer management in the country.

The two days of intensive presentations and panel discussions climaxed on Sunday with a panel discussion on Islamic bioethics, research and role of Muslim healthcare workers in health policy formulations, addressed by both local and international panelists and moderated by Dr. Bajaber.

[By Joel Magu, a Media Consultant & a Practicing Health Journalist.]