SA to host int'l medicine conference

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Pretoria - South Africa is to host the first International Conference of the African Society for Laboratory Medicine, which will be held in Cape Town from 1 - 7 December 2012.

Cabinet noted that South Africa was chosen as the host country for this historic conference in view of its advanced laboratory systems and resources which could be used to make this conference a technical success.

"The objective of the conference is to convene healthcare professionals and policy makers from Africa and around the world to present and discuss the latest developments in diagnostics, strategies for strengthening national laboratory systems and networks and their impact on healthcare delivery as well as disease surveillance," Cabinet said in a statement after its ordinary meeting.

Cabinet also noted that South Africa will participate in the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) 60th Anniversary Conference, which will be held at the Pan African Parliament in South Africa from 28 - 29 November 2012.

The conference aims to celebrate the achievements of the IPPF and its member associations and set out a new agenda for the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for the Post International Conference on Population Development (ICDP) era.

"This conference will contribute to mass mobilisation for better reproductive health in South Africa, thus creating a better South Africa and a better and safer Africa," Cabinet noted.

President Jacob Zuma has been invited to host the ceremony on 29 November 2012. - SAnews.gov.za