Governor N.N. Vohra inaugurated 6thAnnual National Airway Conference of All India Difficult Airway Association at Gulmarg today.The two-day Airway Conference being held for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir, has been organized by the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar, in collaboration with the Indian Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IAPMR), in which more than 300 delegates from India and abroad are participating.Complimenting the organizers for their initiative to hold this important event in Jammu and Kashmir, the Governor observed that it is a valuable opportunity for the medical fraternity to discuss the emerging trends with the experts in the various related areas of specializations and be better equipped for dealing with the emerging challenges in the field of medical care.The Governor called upon the delegates to the Conference to also find time to discuss the varied problems relating to the provision of adequate healthcare to the over billion and a quarter population of India.
In this context, he drew attention to timely initiatives being taken to fill the very large gap in the availability of doctors, nurses, para-medics, technicians and other personnel required to manage hospitals and health care institutions. He observed that, despite many handicaps, the medical fraternity was rendering yeoman service to the country and lauded the doctors and their supporting staff.On the occasion, the Governor also released a Souvenir on the achievements of the All India Airway Association and gave away mementoes to the dignitaries.Dr. Showkat Ali Zargar, Director, SKIMS congratulated the Department of Anesthesiology for organizing this mega event in this picturesque Valley which, he said, will go a long way in providing to-date knowledge to the doctors in the airway management and other latest advancements in the field.
Prof. Imtiyaz Naqash, Organizing Chairman, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, SKIMS, in his welcome address, said that the conference is aimed at providing an insight into the basic and advanced concepts of airway management and the recent developments with focus on difficult airway management. The eminent airway experts and faculties from India and abroad will share their experiences through a series of didactic lectures and thematic sessions. The event will provide an opportunity to the participants to learn various advanced skills in the airway management.Prominent among those present on the occasion included, former Director, SKIMS, Prof. Mehraj-ud-Din, Prof. Khurshid Iqbal, former Head Cardiology, Dean SKIMS, Dr. Gul Javid and Secretary, All India Airway Association, Dr. Sheila Nainan Myatra.