Saturday, February 2, 2008

EuroTimes visits Bangalore

Dermot McGrath reports from Bangalore where over 5,000 eye surgeons from the Indian subcontinent and neighbouring regions such as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have gathered for the 66th annual conference of the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS). We will carry a full report on the conference in the April edition of EuroTimes.
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At the formal opening of the conference, Professor Rajvardhan Azad, Secretary of the AIOS, reviewed the history and mission of the organization, noting that its broad goal is to cultivate and promote the study of the ophthalmic sciences, foster scientific knowledge and raise standards of ophthalmology and patient care.

“From only four members back when the AIOS was founded in 1930, we have today grown to an organization with 11,563 members. Much of that growth has been added over the past 4 to 5 years with an average of 500 ophthalmologists a year joining our ranks, which is a very healthy development,” he said.

Among the various components and activities of the AIOS, Dr Azad highlighted the work of the scientific committee, the academic and research committee, the publication of the official Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, the annual conference, and increasing collaboration with other national and supra-national organizations as key priorities for the organization.

He paid tribute to the sterling work over recent years of outgoing President, Dr Taraprasad Das, and said he was sure that the good work would continue under the leadership and guidance of the incoming President, Dr K.P.S. Malik.

During the opening ceremony, AIOS lifetime achievement awards were presented to Dr Kanti V. Mody, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai, and also to Dr P. Namperumalsamy, who spent over 23 years at Aravind Eye Hospital & Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Madurai, which is affiliated to Tamilnadu Dr M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai.

Dr Azad noted that with over 5,000 delegates registered for this year’s event, the AIOS annual meeting continues to go from strength to strength.

“The annual conference is our flagship event and over the last few years we have seen a tremendous increase in the number of delegates. We expect the numbers to grow in coming years, and I think this reflects the fact that our delegates appreciate that our meeting is a genuine forum for exchange and education,” he said.

He added that next year’s annual conference will be held in Jaipur, followed by Calcutta in 2010, with the latter meeting being held in association with the International Council of Ophthalmology.

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