RIYADH: Defense Minister Prince Salman will open Sunday the four-day Saudi International Conference for Nephrology and Transplantation at the King Fahd Cultural Center, according to Waleed K. Al-Deaigy, a member of the organizing committee.
"The conference is under the auspices of Prince Salman who has extended all kinds of support not only for the success of the event but also to provide treatment accessibility to all citizens and residents," Al-Deaigy said.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman is the conference director general and head of the Prince Fahd bin Salman Charity Association for Renal Patients' Care.
"The conference is also in accordance with the vision of the government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to deliver comprehensive health care to all Saudi citizens and other residents of Saudi Arabia," he said.
Abdul Kareem O. Al-Suwaida, conference deputy director general and president of the Saudi Society of Nephrology & Transplantation, said the symposium's scientific committee had expressed satisfaction and is upbeat over the fact that more than 90 abstracts for group discussions during the event had been received.
He said the scientific program will feature 20 international and 22 local speakers who are experts and well-known in the nephrology and transplantation field.
"They will also share their knowledge and expertise on nephrology and transplantation with the end of contributing to efforts so that patients in general would benefit," Al Suwaida said.
He also said that the latest technology in nephrology and transplantation will be on display at the exhibition during the conference.
The exhibition will also showcase the latest devices and technical developments in the field of hemodialysis and will review the best surgical techniques used in the treatment of kidney ailments.
It will enlighten the public on renal failure and encourage them to donate organs to patients who have to undergo kidney transplants.
"It is with buoyant optimism that we're holding this conference judging from the stature and expertise of the speakers, many of whom have traveled far and wide to attend this prestigious event," Al-Suwaida said.
He said that the conference is significant in view of the experience of the participants and helps advance further medical technology in the Kingdom.
He added that the line-up of hospitals and medical health centers sending representatives to the conference indicates the prestige of the event. Representatives will come from the King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center (KFSH & RC), National Guard Hospital (NGH), Riyadh Military Hospital (RKH), King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH), and the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCHS).
Co-organizers of the conference are the Saudi Society of Nephrology and Transplantation and the Prince Fahd bin Salman Charity Association for Renal Failure Patients' Care.
The conference runs from Feb. 19 to Feb. 22.
© Arab News 2012
