4TH ASIAN SPINAL CORD NETWORK (Ascon) CONFERENCE

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Spinal Injury Rehabilitation Centre (SIRC), Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal is proud to announce that it will be hosting the 4th ASCoN Conference in Kathmandu from 8th-10th November 2004.

We aim to increase awareness and knowledge of comprehensive spinal cord injury management in our own country and throughout Asia. This will lead to greater opportunities for people living here with spinal cord injury to live full, active and dignified lives. There is now, thankfully, a growing interest in spinal cord injury, a condition that has historically been neglected. This has often led to a fatalistic attitude among families and caregivers alike. On humanitarian and practical grounds it is necessary to reject this attitude, and to concentrate on improving the lives of those who have suffered life-changing spinal injuries. The theme of this year’s conference aims to do just that and is as follows:

Comprehensive Spinal Cord Injury Management and Innovation in Asia

The focus will be on the practical and essential aspects of spinal cord injury management and we aim to provide participants with knowledge and skills that they can immediately incorporate into their own programmes post conference. We also want to highlight innovations and advances made in the field throughout the region.

Conference and Workshop areas and topics will therefore include:

Medical and Nursing Care: Acute management, bladder, bowel and skin care, lifting and handling.
Rehabilitation: Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Sexuality, Psychological Support Mobility Aids and assistive devices.
Integration: Economical Rehabilitation, Resettlement and follow-up, Awareness and Prevention.
Management: Rehabilitation Centre Management, Team Management.

We are confident that people working in all aspects of spinal cord injury management in Nepal and in the region will attend. They will be joined by a group of experts from the international arena. We believe the active participation of all will ensure both a successful event and a growing body of knowledge in spinal cord injury.

For more details, registration and abstract forms and conference updates keep an eye on our website www.sirc.org.np or contact me, Esha Thapa, SIRC Director, directly on spinalinju@wlink.com.np. We look forward to welcoming you in November.

Yours faithfully

Esha Thapa, Director