Hyderabad|India|July'2009: A three-day International CME and Workshop in Neonatology kicked off here at NICE Institute for the Newborns, Hyderabad. Several experienced and qualified professionals from different universities in the USA, Canada and UK are to share their knowledge and expertise with their Indian counterparts. Organised by Hyderabad-based South Asia’s largest and exclusive Neonatal facility NICE Institute for the Newborns the three day meet will conclude on Sunday, 26th July.

The neonatal care in India has improved over last three decades and with improved availability of technology, the lives of many little ones have changed for the better. Neonatal Nursing, however, is still in its infancy and needs a boost. The high-risk obstetrics also needs to be addressed and hence these two formed the highlight of the workshops conducted today. The day was marked by workshops on Neonatal Transport, Neonatal Procedure, Neonatal Nursing and Acute Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) today.

Dr. M. Padmanabh Reddy, Organizing Chairperson and Director, NICE Institute for the Newborn informed that the 2nd International CME and Workshop in Neonatology being held in city gives an opportunity for young and future generation doctors who are going to deal with the newborns in our country to learn from the best of the professionals across the world.

India delivers 25% of the world’s births and also contributes 30% of neonatal deaths in the world. This is because India does not have the right kind of infrastructures, technology and technical skills in place to save newborn lives, which is leading onto high neonatal mortality rates, when compared to developed world. The neonatal mortality rates in our country is 44/100 live births and when compared to countries like Sweden and Japan it is 2-3 dealth per 1000 live births. He hoped that events like this will help save the lives of the newborns.

During the three days discussions will be held on subjects and issues concerning Neonatology such as Ethical & Legal issues in Obstetric practice, landmark researches, rational use of antibiotics in newborns, Acute Life Support in Obstetrics, Neonatal Pain, Prevention and Management, Neonatal Transport services and many other issues.

The international faculty who will speaking in the three day meet include: Dr Manjusha Gaglani: Assoicate Professor, Pediatric Infectious Disease, Scott & White Hospital, USA; Dr Venkata Nakta Raju: Director, NICU at Saint Joseph Hospital, A & M University, Texas, USA; Dr Sudha Kashyap: Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons; Dr Prakesh Shah: Associate Professor, Neonatology, University of Toronto, Canada; Dr N Ambalavanan: University of Alabama, Birmingham, USA; Dr Sanjeev Bali: Neonatologist, Antrim Hospital, UK; Dr John Gibson: JPS Hospital, Dallas Fortworth, USA; Dr Ramesh Vidavalur: Attending neonatologist, Pediatrix, Maryland has done his neonatal fellowship from the University of Connecticut; and Dr Rekha Neela : St Joseph’s Hospital, Texas, USA.