APECGH 6TH SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUM
2024
Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd of May 2024
09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in partnership with the KNUST (School of Medicine )
Theme: “ Beyond Half-Point SDG 2030 : Global Health Perspectives on Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy (Disparities, Challenges & Solutions) “
Background
Maternal mortality remains a pressing issue particularly in Low and middle-Income (LMICs) countries. While global efforts have shown progress in reducing maternal deaths, the pace is not fast enough to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.1 on maternal mortality. Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy (HDP) are among the top 3 causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Ghana, Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy (HDP) contribute significantly to maternal mortality accounting for 8-10% of deaths, resulting in a Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) of 308/100,000.
As of 2020 HDP resulted in 22% of direct maternal deaths in Ghana. This has prompted Ghana Health Service (GHS)’s Family Division to emphasise targeted interventions against HDP to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality as part of Ghana’s roadmap to achieving Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Symposium and Audience
The APEC Ghana Scientific Symposium serves as a vital platform for scientists, healthcare practitioners, researchers and policy makers involved in the care of pregnant women at risk of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy (HDP) in Ghana and the sub-region. The annual event is held in commemoration of World Preeclampsia Awareness Day. The symposium facilitates knowledge exchange, sharing good practices and capacity building for national and regional experts and researchers in the field of HDP. This year’s edition will allow stakeholders and practitioners to take stock of what has been achieved till date to minimise adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes caused by HDP. Participants will also have a platform to delve into possible solutions to ramp up efforts and drive action to save the precious lives of mothers and babies. In May 2023, the two-day symposium organised in partnership with the SPOT Study, Ghana College of Physician & Surgeons (GCPS) and WHO witnessed an attendance of over 200 participants on each day. This year we anticipate an attendance of 350-400 participants based on 2023 post-event feedback .
Sub-Themes
- Innovations in Preeclampsia Care
- Disparities in Preeclampsia Management.
- Advocacy for Preeclampsia Awareness.
- Global Ethics in Maternal – Fetal Health.
- Progress & Challenges in Achieving Global Health Goals.
- International Collaboration for Comprehensive Preeclampsia Care
The structure of the scientific symposium has always been plenary with poster presentation during breaks except in 2021, the 3rd Annual Symposium (virtual), which included parallel sessions after an initial plenary opening. The 2024 Symposium however, in commemoration of World Preeclampsia Day and APEC@6, will be a two whole-day event, with plenary and parallel sessions both days .
Objectives
The objective(s) for this year’s symposium are to:
- Discuss the challenges faced at the various levels of care (primary, secondary and tertiary) in managing HDP
- Investigate how disparities in healthcare access and socioeconomic status affect maternal health outcomes related to HDP
- Explore the interplay between HDP and other maternal health issues beyond half-point SDG 2030
- Identify emerging strategies and interventions for preventing, managing and improving the outcome of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.
- Explore emerging technologies and innovations in healthcare that can enhance the early detection, monitoring, and management of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.
Expected Deliverables:
- Identification of common and unique challenges at each level, along with potential solutions or recommendations for improvement.
- Compilation of case studies or examples illustrating successful approaches to managing HDP at different care levels.
- Recommendations for addressing and mitigating disparities, with a focus on improving access to care for vulnerable populations.
- Identification of common risk factors and potential synergies for integrated care.
- Evaluation of the feasibility and scalability of these technologies in diverse healthcare settings and development of a roadmap or guide for integrating emerging technologies into maternity care for HDP.
- Compilation of best practices and guidelines for reducing the risk of recurrence and improving outcomes.
- Recommendations for implementing emerging interventions in clinical practice.
Accreditation & Cost
The Symposium will apply for accreditation with the Medical and Dental Council (MDC), the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Symposium participation is free, however, participants interested in receiving a CPD Points and/or Certificate of Participation will be charged a fee as shown in the table below:
CPD Certificate Fees Schedule
Ghanaians | Non- Ghanaians (International) |
Doctors & Researchers – Ghc 150.00 | Doctors & Researchers – $100.00 |
Nurses & Midwives – Ghc 100.00 | Nurses & Midwives – $ 70.00 |
Students – Ghc 50.00 | Students $ 40.00 |
All others – Ghc 70.00 | All others – $50.00 |
Partnership & Collaboration
- APEC Ghana welcomes collaboration and partnership with Individuals, groups, organisations and corporate bodies who are interested in positively impacting Maternal and Newborn health in Ghana and the sub-region and whose vision aligns with our objectives.
- We invite all organisations, institutions and individuals with a passion for maternal and newborn health to partner and collaborate with us through sponsorship, technical support and in-kind donation.
- We look forward to working with you to save the precious lives of mothers and babies!
Partners
