aatm e-newsletter · aatm e-newsletter volume 5, issue 3 asian association of transfusion medicine...

AATM E-Newsletter Volume 5, Issue 3 Sept-Dec, 2014 Asian Association of Transfusion Medicine

10th Annual AATM Conference, Kathmandu, Nepal

The 10th

Annual AATM Conference was held in Soaltee Crown Plaza, Kathmandu, Nepal from September 18–19, 2014. More than 350 delegates from sixteen countries attended the well-organized conference. The conference helped generate awareness about the significance of blood safety in Nepal. For the technical delegates, it provided an opportunity update their knowledge base of advances in the field of transfusion medicine, an introduction to technological advances and experience sharing with colleagues from around the world through pre-conference CME workshops and scientific sessions.

Pre-Conference CMEs

Two pre-conference CME sessions were organized on September 17, 2014 on “Quality Control in Blood Products” and “ID-NAT and its Practices”. Renowned international and regional transfusion experts shared their research and experiences with the delegates. The ID-NAT pre-conference CME was conducted by Indian Immunohaematology

Initiatives (IIH) led by Dr. Jim Perkins and his team. The second CME on Quality Control in Blood Products was supported by International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT). Both sessions were very informative and thought provoking for the young professionals in the field of transfusion medicine and they also earned credit rewards for their professional growth.

Inaugural Ceremony Session

The inaugural session was organized on 18th

September, 2014 which was graced by the Health Minister and the Chief Executive of the Nepal Red Cross. The chairpersons of the country chapters of AATM made presentations on the status of blood banking in their respective countries. Four young professionals were awarded AATM Fellowship Awards and five were awarded Travel Fellowship Award. Dr. N. Choudhury General Secretary AATM, presented an update on the achievements of AATM during 2013-14. At present, AATM has 453 members from 16 countries and in 2013-14, 149 new members from 7 countries joined AATM. During the reporting period, 14 workshops were organized for capacity building of transfusion medicine students. The AATM fellowship programme, wet workshop programme and EQAS programme are supported by the corporate sector. He congratulated all members of AATM-Nepal chapter for successfully organizing the 10

th

Annual AATM meeting.

Scientific Exhibition

The scientific exhibition was held for the entire duration of the conference. It was participated by 30 international exhibitors and 64 exhibition staff. The exhibition attracted a lot of visitors. Many latest equipment and devices were displayed updating the participants on the latest developments.


Scientific Sessions

The academic programme designed by the scientific committee covered Asian as well as international areas of interest. 65 speakers made presentations in 12 parallel sessions covering a number of topics from basic research to clinical studies and sharing of best blood bank practices including Clinical Transfusion Medicine, Donor Health & Safety, Immunohaematology, New Cellular Therapies and Transfusion Technology and Quality. The Scientific Committee attracted speakers from neighboring fields of science as well, introducing new knowledge, views and methods into the realm of transfusion medicine. Each session and presentation was chaired and co-chaired by various renowned experts. Stimulating Question/answer sessions were held after the presentations. 40 posters were presented in the well-attended poster session.

Annual Governing Council Meeting

The AATM Governing Council annual meeting was held after the pre-conference workshops. The meeting was chaired by President AATM, Dr. Ananda Gunasekara and facilitated by General Secretary AATM, Dr. N. Choudhury. The Council decided to hold the next annual conference in Islamabad, Pakistan from October 9-11, 2015. The Council was informed about the ongoing programmes (fellowship, EQAS, diploma course in cell therapy, etc) and minutes of seven Skype meeting were approved.

MOUs with AABB and IBTO

During the conference, AATM signed MOUs with American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) and Iranian Blood Transfusion Organisation (IBTO) for long term cooperation to make blood transfusion safe in the region. AATM has country chapters in ten countries which are functionally independent units to implement AATM objectives at country level. Eleventh AATM country chapter was established in Iran during the conference under the Chairmanship of Dr. AA Porfatullah (Director IBTO, Iran).

Annual General Body Meeting

AATM Annual General Body meeting was organized on the last day of the conference in which many important decisions were taken including election of new Governing Council members for a period of three years (2015-17).


Conference Banquet

The official banquet was organized in a local restaurant and was very well attended. Traditional Nepalese music and dance performances by talented artists was organized in the Banquet which was highly appreciated and enjoyed by the conference delegates.

City Tour

Kathmandu is a beautiful city with rich culture and history. The conference organizers arranged city tours for the participants which provided an opportunity to the visitors to enjoy the sights of Kathmandu.


ISBT Pre-conference CME

Academic Sponsor, 10th Annual AATM Conference, Kathmandu, Nepal

S. No. Name of Company Type of Sponsor ship

1. International Society of Blood Transfusion Academic Sponsor

Corporate Sponsors, 10th Annual AATM Conference, Kathmandu, Nepal

S. No. Name of Company Type of Sponsor ship

1. Cerus International, USA Platinum Sponsor 2. Novartis Diagnostics/ Grifolls, Hong Kong Gold Sponsor 3. Roche Diagnostics (India) Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi, India, Gold Sponsor 4. Remi Sales & Engg. Ltd. New Delhi, India Silver Sponsor 5. Terumo Penpol Limited, Chennai, India Silver Sponsor 6. Immucore India Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, India Silver Sponsor 7. Insignia International, New Delhi, India Silver Sponsor 8. Dometic Medical Systems, Singapore, Silver Sponsor 9. Macopharma Australia Pty Ltd. NSW, Australia Silver Sponsor

10. Fresenius Kabi India Private Ltd. Pune, India, Silver Sponsor 11. Plasmogen, Bangalore, India Ordinary 12. Hemonetics Corp, Bangalore ,Karnataka, India Ordinary 13. HLL Lifecare Limited Thiruvananthapuram, India Ordinary 14. Johnson & Johnson Limited, Mumbai, India Ordinary


3rd Anatolian Blood Days Annual Conference, Turkey

The 3rd

Anatolian Blood Days conference was held in Antalya, Turkey from Nov 30 – Dec 2, 2014, by the Turkish Blood Foundation. The theme of the conference was the remuneration that the blood banking staff gets in comparison to the laboratory staff in the same country. Representatives from 23 countries participated in the conference and presented the status of blood banking in their respective countries with a special emphasis on the conference theme. In addition to the foreign delegates, about 40 local experts working in different national hospitals participated. Pakistan was represented by Dr. Farrukh Hasan, President, Asian

Association of Transfusion Medicine (AATM). He also made the country presentation. The scientific sessions included interactive presentations to discuss the general and conference theme issue. A consensus set of recommendations was drafted by the participating experts which will soon be shared with relevant authorities in the participating countries.

Workshop on Transfusion Serology, Dhaka, Bangladesh

The Bangladesh chapter of the AATM organized a wet-workshop on Transfusion Serology September 13, 2014, at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Shahbag, Dhaka. Medical Technologists of licensed blood banks and postgraduate students of Transfusion Medicine Department of BSMMU attended the workshop. In the wet workshop, there were both theoretical as well as practical sessions facilitated by the renowned & reputed Professor of Transfusion Medicine on the selected topics on transfusion medicine. The trainees visited the Transfusion Medicine Department of BSMMU to orient themselves with the practical work. During the workshop the

Bangladesh Chapter AATM felicitated an ward of honors to Professor Emeritus Dr. Mujib-ur-Rahman who was the first PhD in South & South East Asia in Blood Transfusion & widely regarded as the Father of Transfusion Medicine in Bangladesh.

Award for AATM from Health Ministry, India

October 1 is celebrated as the ‘National Blood Donation Day’ in India since many years. This year, programme was organized on 1st October by the Ministry of Health, Govt. of India and the Cabinet Minister of Health felicitated AATM with ‘Award of Excellence’ in the field of ‘Blood Transfusion and Voluntary Blood Donation’ and it was a matter of pride for AATM.

Workshop on Data and Information Management in

Blood Transfusion Services, Islamabad, Pakistan

The Pakistan Society for Blood Transfusion and Pakistan Chapter of AATM in collaboration with International Society of Blood Transfusion and Islamabad Blood Transfusion Authority organized a workshop on Data and Information Management on December 23, 2014 in Islamabad. The specific objectives of the workshop were to highlight the importance of Data and Information Management for BTS in Pakistan and to update the participants to a comprehensive information management system in BTS (best practices and latest developments). The working group discussion identified priority actions and plan for implementation to improve data and information management for blood banks especially in the Islamabad Capital Territory. In a nutshell, the workshop resulted in an improved awareness of good evidence based data management practices which is evident from the evaluation of this event.

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