Emerging and re-emerging infections among migrants
18 March @ 14.00 CET
Forced mass population movement exposes refugees to many hazards including the harm of life-threatening infections. Refugees are frequently compelled to shelter in overcrowded accommodation, putting them at risk of airborne pathogens. ISAC welcomes you to join a webinar that focuses on respiratory infectious diseases in refugees, providing insight into the epidemiology, prevention, and management of important pathogens. Dr Androulla Efstratiou, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Diphtheria & Streptococcal Infections, UK Health Security Agency, will talk about diphtheria and other vaccine preventable diseases, while Dr Aula Abbara, a consultant in Infectious Diseases and General Internal Medicine at Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust, London, who has worked in many humanitarian and refugee settings in the Middle East, will review drug resistant tuberculosis among refugees and migrants. This is a highly recommended opportunity to listen to and ask questions of two leading experts in this important clinical area and we look forward to you joining us for the session.
Speaker bios
Professor Androulla Efstratiou
"Diphtheria and other vaccine preventable infections among refugees"
Professor Androulla Efstratiou is the Director of the WHO Global Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Diphtheria and Streptococcal Infections and Consultant Public Health Microbiologist at the UK Health Security Agency (formerly Public Health England). She is a Visiting Professor to the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College, London, adjunct professor at the University of Cyprus Medical School and the European University School of Medicine. Other key appointments include consultancy and advisory roles for WHO and the European Commission on infectious diseases, notably bacterial vaccine preventable diseases. Her key specialist areas are within the field of diphtheria, streptococcal infections and global public health.
Dr Aula Abbara
"Drug resistant tuberculosis among refugees & migrants"
Dr Abbara is a is a consultant in Infectious Diseases/ General Internal Medicine at Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust, London and an Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at Imperial College, London. She works part time for MSF as an infectious diseases/ malaria advisor. In 2015, she co-founded the Syria Public Health Network, Health Professionals for Global Health and is now the research lead for the Syrian American Medical Society. She teaches on the Global Health BSc and leads the Global Health Challenges module of the Masters in Public Health. Her research interests are AMR in conflict settings, the impacts of attacks on WASH and waterborne diseases and early warning systems in syndromic surveillance.
Prof. David Jenkins
MODERATOR
Dr David Jenkins is a consultant medical microbiologist and infection prevention specialist and Treasurer of ISAC. He is past President of BSAC. David has served as lead infection prevention doctor at University Hospitals of Leicester for over 20 years. He is also his Trust’s lead doctor for antimicrobial stewardship. In addition, Dr Jenkins is responsible for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in infection at the University of Leicester Medical School.
He is engaged in research in antimicrobial stewardship and was a co-investigator on an antibiotic prescribing behaviour research project funded by the Economics and Social Research Council, looking at prescribing practice in the UK, South Africa and Sri Lanka. He also took part in a study investigating antimicrobial use and resistance in Cape Verde.
Prof. Regina Berba
MODERATOR
Dr Regina Berba is the Chairperson of the Hospital Infection Control Unit of the Philippines General Hospital. She also chairs the Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee and is a member of ISAC's Executive Committee.
Dr Berba is an infectious diseases specialist and is the head of the UP-PRIME TB DOTS and the UP Leptospirosis Taskforce. She also serves as the Section Head for the Infectious Disease Section of The Medical City.
