U.P. Pedicon 2009
14th & 15th November’09, Allahabad

Brief report:

The 30th Annual conference of the UP State branch of Indian Academy of Pediatrics was held at Allahabad on 14th & 15th November’09. The conference was inaugurated by the President of IAP Dr. Panna Choudhury who was the chief guest. The guest of honor was the Vice President Dr. Atul Agarwal.

In his inaugural address, Dr. Panna Choudhury gave a detailed account of the activities of Central IAP and requested members to actively participate in them. Dr. Ajay Kalra Professor Pediatrics at S.N. Medical College took over as President of the state branch from Dr. D.K. Tiwari of Saharanpur. In his presidential address Dr. Kalra outlined the grim picture of child health in the state. However, he felt that instead of feeling sorry of frustrated we should take up the challenge. To meet any challenge, we need to empower ourselves. We can do this by updating ourselves in the recent advances, by increasing our membership, by increasing the facilities in the institutions and by providing re-orientation training programmes to para-medical staff in private sectors. He quoted the work done by Dr. Digant Shastri in Gujarat in this respect. He also commended the research done by Dr. Vipin Vashistha with regard to the disease which was earlier called Saharanpur encephalitis and pointed out that this showed research can be done even in the remotest part of the state. He appealed for holistic approach for the care of the child.

The conference was attended by over 300 delegates. Several important topics were covered in the two days of the conference. Key note addresses were delivered by Dr. Prof. K.N. Agarwal on Iron and brain development and by Dr. Raina President of the Pediatrics Surgeon Association of India on Management of Empyema thoracis. Dr. Vineet Saxena provided the details and concept of Neonatal Recitation Programme of IAP and the Navjat Shishu Suraksha Karyakram of Government of India. The faculty in the two days conference included Dr. Rohit Agarwal, Dr. Yash Paul, Dr. Praveen Khilnani, Dr. Rajiv Uttam, Dr. V. Bhatnagar  (from outside the state) and Dr. Rajiv Saran, Dr. K.L. Srivastava, Dr. D.K. Agarwal, Dr. B.D. Bhatia, Dr. Vipin Vashistha, Dr. V.N. Tripathi, Dr. K.P Kushwaha, Dr. O.P. Mishra, Dr. Manazar Ali, Dr. Farzana Beg, Dr. S.N. Singh, Dr. Arvind, Garg, Dr. N.C. Prajapati, Dr. S. Phadke, Dr. Ashok Rai, Dr. Rajpal Singh, Dr. Lalit Kumar, Dr. Amit Upadhayay, Dr. Rajesh Kumar and Dr. Premasish Mazumdar (from the state).

A two days workshop on basic Pediatric Intensive Care preceded the conference at Jagriti Hospital. The cultural evening where more than 700 people were present was a delightful experience.

Another highlight was the presence of several past presidents of IAP viz. Dr. V.K. Agarwal, Dr. Kanwal Kalra, Dr. M.M. Maithani, Dr. D.K. Sharma, Dr. Rajiv Saran, Dr. K.L. Srivastava and Dr. B.D. Bhatia. Dr. V.K. Agarwal was awarded the life time achievement award.

The success of the conference was due to the untiring efforts made by the organizers headed by Professor P.C. Mishra as Organizing Chairperson, Dr. Avanindra Agarwal as Organizing Secretary, Dr. Ghanshyam Mishra as Joint Organizing Secretary, Dr. D.K. Singh as Scientific Secretary and the work of a wonderful team including Dr. Ajai Gopal and Dr. R.C. Chourasia.

-Ajay Kalra, President UP-IAP, 2010

Panellists of the dialogue session on newer vaccines	Souvenir release ceremony
A view of the delegates	All the faces behind the successful show at Allahabad
Panna Choudhury being felicitated by Ghansyam Mishra	Vipin Vashishtha delivering his talk on pneumonia on second day of the conference
Rohit Agarwal, Secretary General of IAP being felicitated by the organizers	Yash Paul-the moderator of the panel discussion on newer vaccines
Change of medallion-Ajay Kalra, President of UP-IAP receiving the medallion from D.K.Tiwari	Inauguration of the conference- Lamp lighting ceremony