Asian conference on diarrhea, nutrition to focus on challenges, solution

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DHAKA, Jan 26, 2020 (BSS) – The 15th Asian Conference on Diarrheal Disease
and Nutrition (ASCODD) would highlight on their challenges and solution of
typhoid, cholera, malnutrition, which together cause 300,000 deaths globally.

The bulk of the health challenge exists in Asia and Africa, much to cause
humanitarian crises across the world. In addition, as growing antimicrobial
resistance (AMR) is raising the threat, these two diseases could soon become
untreatable with currently available drugs.

This information came out from a press conference held at Hotel Sonargaon
in the city today.

The theme of the conference is “Typhoid, cholera, other enteric diseases
and their relationship to nutritional disorders: Persisting challenges for
LMICs in an era of humanitarian crisis”.

International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b)
is going to organise the 3-day (January 28-30) event with the support of the
government, World Health Organisation (WHO), the Swedish International
Development Cooperation Agency and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The conference will feature four symposiums on subjects of global interest
– ‘Typhoid conjugate vaccine: prospects for use in Asia and Africa’, ‘Ending
cholera 2030: Initiatives and challenges,’ ‘Environmental enteropathy, gut
microbiota and childhood malnutrition’, and ‘Antimicrobial Resistance and its
impact on treatment of enteric infections’, said a press release.

Organised by icddr,b, the first-ever ASCODD was held in Dhaka in 1982.
Since then, ASCODD has emerged as a bridge between young researchers and
global experts by facilitating knowledge sharing, ideas and research
collaboration.

Dr Firdausi Qadri, senior scientist at Enteric and Respiratory Infections
at icddr,b and the President of the ASCODD while speaking at the press
commence told journalists that she believes that the conference will offer
immense benefits to its participants.

“Bangladesh is holding this conference after seventeen years, offering a
rare opportunity for researchers in the field of enteric diseases and
nutrition to share their work and learn from other global experts. I believe
the conference will immensely benefit them in strengthening their scientific
pursuit,” she said.

Representatives from governments, and non-governmental organisations
(NGOs), physicians, medical students interested in enteric bacterial diseases
can leverage opportunities of global knowledge sharing, collaboration and
networking from this platform.

Executive Director, icddr,b Professor John David Clemens, Director, IEDCR
Professor Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora, Additional Director General (Planning
and Development) and Line Director (CDC) Professor Dr Sanya Tahmina, Deputy
Executive Director and icddr,b Syed Monjurul Islam, among others, were
present at the press conference.