Princess Basma inaugurates 10th int’l dermatology conference

AMMAN — The 10th International Conference of the Jordanian Society of Dermatology, Dermatosurgery and Laser opened on Wednesday, with the participation of regional and international specialists.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, HRH Princess Basma said employing advanced medical capabilities to improve patients’ quality of life and ease their suffering is one of the major challenges dermatologists face.

“In 2013, 46,000 accidents occurred in Jordan, resulting in the death of more than 600 people, and the injury of more than 274,000 persons,” she added, noting that in many cases the injured suffered disfigurement and psychological problems.

She cited reckless driving and house fires in winter as two of the main reasons for skin-related injuries. 

“Tragically, it is young children who are most vulnerable to this danger,” Princess Basma said, adding that their injuries led to a lengthy process of costly and painful cosmetic surgeries.  

The medical conference, which concludes on Friday, includes participants from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, Tunisia, Sudan, Egypt, Libya, Germany, the UK, France, Russia, Italy, Bulgaria and the US.

Princess Basma underscored the importance of the Dead Sea as a destination to treat skin disease due to the high concentrations of salts and minerals.

“Today people come to the Dead Sea from all over the world seeking treatment for a variety of ailments such as vitiligo, psoriasis, eczema, and joint and respiratory tract illnesses,” she said.

Health minister Ali Hiasat said the advancements in Jordan’s medical sector have won the country regional and international attention.

“The fields of dermatology and laser treatment have been developing rapidly, and dermatology now has several subspecialties,” he said, highlighting the advancement in diagnosing skin diseases.

Jordan Medical Association President Hashem Abu Hassan highlighted the importance of medical conferences where doctors and specialists share their experiences and present some of the rare cases they have dealt with to enrich each other’s experiences.

Mohammad Abbadi, who is chairing the conference, said the event aims to boost the skills and knowledge of local dermatologists and participants from other countries and introduce them to the most recent developments in the field.

The three-day event includes 56 lectures and three workshops featuring 29 Arab and international presenters, including nine Jordanian doctors, according to the chairman of the conference’s scientific committee, Mohammad Helalat.

On the sidelines of the opening session, Princess Basma inaugurated a medical exhibition where 44 local and international medical and pharmaceutical companies are exhibiting their products.