UKZN’s Department of Paediatrics and Child Health held its joint annual symposium and Update for Paediatricians and Paediatric Surgeons (UPPS) at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALCH), prioritising child health.
The update included three workshops, the first focusing on the intricate insertion of central venous lines in children. Advanced life support paramedics were invited to conduct the second workshop which focused on stabilising critically ill children prior to transfer; while the third workshop demonstrated how to use humidified heated high-flow nasal cannula (H3FLO2) in new-born children.
Paediatric Head of the Clinical Unit at King Edward VIII Hospital and Convenor of the Paediatric Update, Dr Kimesh Naidoo said, ‘This year, we tried to focus on our collaboration with the surgical disciplines: burns, liver transplants and hydrocephalus (a neurological disorder caused by an abnormal build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in the cavities deep within the brain).’
‘The update brings together paediatric doctors of all levels to share new developments within the profession,’ said Naidoo, adding that the event was important because junior doctors and registrars (specialists in training) do not often get the opportunity to attend and present at local and international conferences. The neonatal topics covered at the event as well as the promotion of maternal immunisation have an impact on paediatric care.
The programme included four short-listed research presentations by Drs Sinegugu Mdletshe, Mpokeleng Rethabile Selela, Sarah Dlamini and Philile Buthelezi, all registrars in the Department of Paediatrics. Selela won the first prize of R5 000, while Mdletshe and Buthelezi won the joint second prize of R3 000 each. The third prize of R2 000 went to Dlamini. ‘The presentations were of a high quality,’ said the Head of UKZN’s Paediatrics and Child Health Department, Professor Refiloe Masekela.
UKZN’s Head of the Paediatric Specialist Intensive Care Unit and Pulmonology at IALCH, Professor Prakash Jeena, presented What’s New in the Prevention and Treatment of Respiratory Syncytial Virus and the Journey through Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection, Treatment and Prevention Strategies Over the last half-century.
Words and photograph: Lunga Memela