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In this Issue:
- Governor's Message
- 18th International Congress and Conference
- ACP Stall in the Conference
- Poster Competition
- New Governor of Bangladesh Chapter
- 8th Meeting of the ACP Bangladesh Chapter
- CME organized by ACP Bangladesh Chapter
- News
- Fellows in the Last Six Months
- Members in the Last Six Months
- Health Hazard of Rohingya People in Bangladesh
Quazi Tarikul Islam, MD, FACP, ACP Governor
Governor's Message
Dear Colleague,
New Year greetings 2018. I am highly privileged to welcome you all to the ACP Bangladesh Chapter Newsletter February 2018. We had very good 2017. As of the end of January we have 483 members, of them 27 in process of being member. I am pleased to inform you all that ACP Bangladesh Chapter got a Chapter award for “Recruit-a-Colleague” in 2017. I congratulate the members of ACP Bangladesh Chapter for their overwhelming participation which is really exceptional. The chapter also got incentive of 12 complimentary registrations for the 2018 Internal Medicine Meeting in New Orleans.
Throughout the year we had lots of program which has been ended with 18th International Congress and Conference of BSM in December.
Bangladesh is facing a serious problem due to the forced migration of Rohingya ethnic people from Myanmar. It has been started since August 2017. Children, women, elderly and adult people came with huge health burden for our country. Diseases such as Polio and Diphtheria were eliminated from Bangladesh and the nation was awarded by the UN for the achievement of elimination of them, but unfortunately these migrant people brought these diseases back to Bangladesh. A huge number of HIV, Cholera, Gonococcal infection and many other infectious and non-infectious diseases are documented. These are an enormous burden for the health sector of Bangladesh. The Government, hundreds of national and international NGOs are working for their food, shelter and health. More than one million people took shelter in the Coxs Bazar (Southern part) district of Bangladesh. Myanmar army killed thousands of people, raped Rohingya females and arsoned houses of Rohingya people. Top United Nations officials termed it as copy book example of ethnic cleansing. ACP Bangladesh Chapter members participated in a health camp for Rohingya people organized by the Bangladesh Society of Medicine.
18th International Congress and Conference
The 18th International Congress and Conference, organized by Bangladesh Society of Medicine and endorsed by American College of Physicians and active participation of local chapter, was held from 8-10 December, 2017. A total of 1363 registered participants attended the meeting. A total of 143 national and 17 international faculties took part as speakers in the program. The program overview is as follows:
- One Grand Round and one Clinical Pearl sessions
- One round table conference on Patient –Physicians relation
- One State of the Art lecture
- Professor Mohammed Fazle Rabbi Memorial Speech
- Five Keynote speeches
- Seventeen Symposium, each having three parallel sessions
- Twenty-five Multiple Small Feedings of the Mind
- Twenty-four free papers
- Fourteen Posters
- Two Clinical Skill development programs for post graduate students
- Two Workshops for Post Graduate Physicians
Speakers from home and abroad joined the conference and it was lively and amazing. ACP ambassador Hans Peter Kohler, MD, MACP, Professor of Medicine, also Secretary General, International Society of Internal Medicine (ISIM), delivered the State of the Art lecture on the topic “Thromboembolism: An Update.”
Introductory speech by Hans Peter Kohler in ACP Bangladesh chapter session
ACP Stall in the Conference
There was an ACP stall in the conference premises like every year. Twenty-seven Post Graduate Physicians registered for new membership. The stall was designed with different national and international newspaper headlines on the Rohingya crisis.
ACP stall in the Conference. ACP Ambassador with Governor-elect Prof. HAM Nazmul Ahasan, MD, MACP (left) and Present Governor Quazi Tarikul Islam, FCPS, FACP (right).
Poster Competition
The chapter's poster champions will join the ACP poster competition in the USA:
- First Position: Dr. Sabbiha Nadia Majumder
- Second Position: Dr. Madhabi Karmaker
- Third Position: Dr. Noshin Tabassum
Sabbiha Nadia Majumder and Madhabi Karmaker
New Governor of Bangladesh Chapter
I am very much pleased to inform you that Prof. HAM Nazmul Ahasan was elected as Governor- elect in December 2017. He will take charge as our chapter Governor in May 2018. My heartiest congratulations to Prof. HAM Nazmul Ahasan, MACP.
Prof. HAM Nazmul Ahasan MACP, Governor-elect
8th Meeting of the ACP Bangladesh Chapter
A meeting was held on 5th November 2017 at Rafiquddin Conference hall, DMCH at 12 noon.
Prof. Quazi Tarikul Islam welcomed the advisory council members on the meeting. Following information was disseminated in the meeting.
- Prof. Hans Peter Kohler will join as an Ambassador of ACP for the 18th International Congress and Conference of BSM.
- In the meeting it was requested to the Governor that MKSAP could include an International chapter where 2-3 diseases which are prevalent in Bangladesh be added (Dengue and Chikungunya).
- CME will be arranged by ACP in 2017. Topic: Health care challenges; Rohingya people in Bangladesh.
- Governor informed that he had disseminated the Rohingya situation at International breakout session of ACP in Montreal, Canada.
- An educational program with Student members will be arranged on 3nd March 2018. Topic is Doctor/Patient Relationship.
- Young researcher of Bangladesh should get privilege on joint research work with ACP.
- Problem regarding getting US visa also discussed. Local Governor is requested to meet with Ambassador of USA for discussion.
CME organized by ACP Bangladesh Chapter
ACP Bangladesh Chapter organized a CME event on “Health Care Challenges: Rohingya People in Bangladesh” in the premises of Marriott Convention Center, Dhaka dated 27th December 2017. Prof. HAM Nazmul Ahasan, MACP spoke on “Health Care Challenges; Rohingya People in Bangladesh - Social and Physical Aspect.” Prof. Md. Waziul Alam Chowdhury, President, Psychiatric Association Bangladesh, spoke on “Health Care Challenges; Rohingya People in Bangladesh- Psychiatric Aspect.” Approximately 200 ACP members attended the CME event. Prof. Khan Abul Kalam Azad, President Bangladesh Society of Medicine, was present as a guest of honor. Prof. Quazi Tarikul Islam, Governor, ACP Bangladesh Chapter chaired the session.
CME by ACP Bangladesh Chapter. Governor welcoming speech
News
Chandra Shekhar Bala, MBBS, FCPS, FACP has been nominated as recipient of an ACP International Fellowship Exchange Program (IFEP) award for the 2017-2018 program year. He will be trained at the Geriatric Division of University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada to acquire new skills in Geriatric Medicine. His fellowship will begin on March 12, 2018 and conclude at the end of the ACP Internal Medicine Meeting, this year being held April 19-21, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. At present he is working as Junior Consultant at National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital, Dhaka.
Fellows in the Last Six Months
Md. Ashraf Uddin Chowdhury, MD,MBBS FACP
Mohammad Saifuddin, MBBS FACP
Ahmed R Hussain, MBBS FCPS FACP
Mamoon Rashid Safdar, MBBS FACP
SyedaFahmida Hossain, MBBS FACP
Mohd Harun-Or Rashid, MD FACP
Chandra S Bala, MBBS FCPS FACP
Md Abdul Ali Mia, MBBS FACP
Members in the Last Six Months
MdRezaul Karim, MBBS MD
Rashedul Hassan, MBBS
Tania Mahbub, MBBS MD
Prof ShyamalSarker, MD
Mohammed Abdur Rahim, MBBS
NazmulHoqueMunna, MD
Ashraf-Ur Rahman
Prodip Sarkar, MBBS
Satyajit Barua, MBBS
A T M Hasibul Hasan, MD
Sakif Shahriar, MBBS MD
Latif Rahman
Tania Rubyet Nur
Saleh M Ali, MBBS
A.B.M. Shafiuzzaman, MBBS
Quazi N Hoque, MBBS
Md Hoque, MBBS
Reza Ahmed, MBBS MD
Health Hazard of Rohingya People in Bangladesh
Rohingyas are the most persecuted communities in the world. Since August 25, Myanmar has sharply escalated its systematic assault against a Muslim minority people called the Rohingya, in a ravaging campaign of murder and rape. Over 200 villages have been burned and destroyed. Acts of brutality, namely killings, disappearances, torture, and sexual violence is done by Myanmar army. Myanmar discriminated Rohingyas on the basis of name, different look and religion.
The idea of disaster is usually associated with human suffering caused by natural events: tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods. However, human-created disasters stemming from war, the conduct of repressive regimes, the use of sanctions, and economic and social policies represent an equally important dimension of disaster. These practices have political goals and produce a range of negative social and economic conditions beyond their stated aims. They cause human suffering, especially among vulnerable groups, disproportionately women, children, older people and poor people.
Since 25th August 2017, total forcibly displaced Myanmar national to Bangladesh is 622000. 40% of the total remain in 3 settlements Balukhali, Leda & Kutupalong makeshift settlements. Identified vulnerable people are 10.6% of population. Among them, pregnant mothers 3%, lactating mothers 7%, disabled persons 0.4%, unaccompanied and separated children 0.2% and elderly 4% of population. Disease profile among the displaced Myanmar nationals (Rohingya) are diarrhea 21254 (38.6%), respiratory tract infection 3064 (5.6%), cough and cold/ no pneumonia 15579 (28.3%), skin disease 7921 (14.4%), injury 1369 (2.5%), abscess 1105 (2%), eye infection 2813 (5.1%), severe acute malnutrition 701 (1.3%), moderate acute malnutrition 1255 (2.3%). Besides these, STD 265, unexplained fever 112598, neurological disorder 218, malaria test positive 13572, measles 611 cases were identified. A total of 804 suspected diphtheria cases including 15 deaths were reported among the displaced Rohingya population in Cox's Bazar. The Government also started vaccination among the vulnerable group like MR, OPV, Vitamin A capsule, Cholera vaccine. 237,500 children immunized against measles and rubella. 900,000 doses of OPV administered in two rounds. 650,000 affected people vaccinated against cholera.
Huge logistics and manpower are required to provide health service to the diseased Rohingya. Total 147 static health center (Government: 25, Army:10 and Non-Government: 112) is established. Total number of physicians and supportive staffs are 107 and 574 respectively. Total member of vaccination team is 231 and field ambulance number is 21. Sanitation and safe drinking water is always a problem in disaster situation. 450,000 people provided with access to safe drinking water; culturally appropriate latrines, and key messages on hygiene.
Disaster brings multiple types of stressors in disaster victims like bereavement, property loss and threat of life. Psychological problems mostly encountered are post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, night terror, phobic disorder, depression, bipolar mood disorder and psychosis. The UN Security Council has responsibility to address both the massive humanitarian crisis underway in the region, and to determine if genocidal acts should be investigated. A full investigation into crimes against humanity and accountability for those crimes is deemed necessary. Impunity for mass killings cannot be allowed in this era.
Conclusion
I have been serving as Governor of the ACP Bangladesh Chapter officially since 1/1/2016. I tried my best to uphold the dignity and essence of ACP in Bangladesh. During my tenure, more than 270 new members and fellows joined in our chapter due to publicity, interaction and personal communication. The ACP Bangladesh Chapter has arranged three CME and one skill development programs in the last two years. Participated annual meeting of ACP platform of BSM thrice in the last two and half years. I am grateful to members, fellows, executive committee and official staffs for their whole hearted support during my tenure.
Quazi Tarikul Islam, FCPS, FACP
Professor of Medicine
Popular Medical College Hospital
Governor, American College of Physicians, Bangladesh Chapter
Cell: +8801715299399, Mail: prof.tarik@gmail.com
Mohammad Rafiqul Islam. MBBS, FACP
Secretary to Governor, ACP-Bangladesh Chapter.
Cell: + 8801753199796, Mail: drrafiq73@yahoo.com