Miri to host second Borneo Diabetes Conference
MIRI: The 2nd Borneo Diabetes conference will be held from July 5 to 7 this year at Pullman Waterfront Hotel here featuring 17 speakers, four of them from overseas, who will share information on diabetes and clinical treatments.
The main organising committee chairman Jong Koi Chong said that this year’s edition is expected to see more participants following the success of the inaugural event last year which attracted 500 participants.
“We received overwhelming support in the inaugural event so much so that there was a request for us to organise it again this year.
“Certainly, this time around we are more prepared compared to the fi rst time and that there will be more prominent and established fi gures in the medical field relating to diabetes to speak on various topics,” Jong, who is also the national Diabetes Malaysia vice president, said at a press conference here yesterday.
The international guest speakers at the conference are International Diabetes Federation president Prof. Dr Nam H. Cho ( South Korea); endocrinologist Prof. Dr Nemencio Nicodemus Jr. (the Philippines); Prof. Dr Juliana Chan ( Hong Kong) and Prof. Dr Kadowaki Takashi (Japan).
The other speakers are Prof. Dato’ Dr Annuar Zaini Md Zain ( Monash University); Prof. Dato’ Dr Mafauzy Mohamed ( USM); Prof. Dr Norlela ( UKM); Prof. Dr S P Chan (Sime Darby Medical Centre); Dr Feizul Idzwan Mustapha ( Ministry of Health); Dr Zanariah Hussein ( MOH); Dr Wu Lu Ling ( Universiti Malaya); Dr G. R. Letchuman Ramanathan ( MOH); Dr Lau Bik Kui ( MOH); Dr Loh Huai Heng ( Unimas); Dr Kuan Yueh Chien ( MOH) and Koa Ai Ling ( MOH).
He said that the event offers a platform for sharing of diabetes-related medical information among medical professionals and will be of benefit to local and international doctors, as well as health professionals like nurses, pharmacists, medical assistants and paramedics.
Jong, who is also International Diabetes Federation – Western Pacific Region ( IDF-WPR) secretary, added that participants from some of the 28 countries under the IDF-WPR including Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Brunei, Nehru, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand have been invited to attend the conference.
“We have also decided to make this conference an annual event to be held in Miri where it fi rst started, and most certainly it will continue that way in future.
“One of the reasons why it is held here is that we are striving to introduce Miri to international delegates and boost the local tourism industry.”
Registration is now open with early bird prices available from now until April 1 with RM280 fees for allied health professionals / medical students; RM350 for medical doctors who are members of Malaysian Medical Association ( MMA); RM450 for medical doctors (non-MMA members) and US$ 250 for foreign participants.
After April 1, the standard fee for registration is RM350 for allied health professionals/medical students; RM400 medical doctors ( MMA members); RM500 for medical doctors (non-MMA members) and US$ 300 for foreign participants.
For more information on registration or other related matters, contact Dr Andy Tang Sing Ong (secretariat) at + 6010531 8661 or email: andytangsingong@ gmail.com.