BY Nkosazana Ngwadla
Fifth-year MBChB student at the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, Mr Mohamed Hoosen Suleman was selected by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) to attend its conference in Copenhagen, Denmark recently. He was part of the Medical student delegation, representing South Africa and the global medical youth voice.
He landed at King Shaka International Airport on 20 April and shared his exhilarating and thought-provoking experiences after engaging with senior experts in clinical microbiology and infectious diseases during his trip.
The Head of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, Dr Sandile Tshabalala, extended the Department’s congratulations to Suleman and wished him well.
Suleman said global experts advocate for a multidisciplinary approach to the evolving epidemic of infectious disease outbreaks, especially reflecting on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and different countries’ responses.
‘I learned about the latest data and research on molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity; virulence factors’ interactions with host cells; innate and adaptive immunity to infection; the development of vaccines against viral and non-viral pathogens; genomic sequencing of pathogenic bacteria; clinical microbiology, antibiotics and resistance; immunology; nosocomial infections; therapeutics and prevention of infectious diseases and other related topics,’ said Suleman.
The meeting was attended by leading researchers, medical specialists, clinicians, scientists, scholars and students from across the globe. ‘Many presentations focused on biology, transmission of pathogens, infectious disease diagnostics, the latest treatment guidelines and infection prevention and control policies. The scientific discussions had a particular focus on the host immune response to infection, community-acquired infections, and emerging infectious diseases,’ he added.
Suleman said that the keynote addresses by the World Health Organization’s Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and H.E. Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados and Chair of the Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) were particularly fascinating. ‘Major commitments were made to ensure that AMR remains a top health priority and the road to the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AMR in 2024 will unpack detailed interventions to halt the burden of AMR,’ he said.
‘AMR continues to rise and has now surpassed mortality rates due to HIV and AIDS or malaria. The latest data published in The Lancet reveals that more than 1.2 million deaths occurred in 2019 as a result of AMR and that sub-Saharan Africa had the highest number of deaths. Novel interventions that seek to address the AMR epidemic are urgently needed.’
A top-performing student at UKZN and a youth healthcare leader, Suleman is widely respected for his advocacy efforts and holds numerous awards and accolades from the University and beyond.
Advising other students who may wish to follow in his footsteps, Suleman said: ‘Curiosity, passion, persistence and perseverance are fundamental attributes that one needs to have in order to successfully pursue a career path. I think it’s also important for students to have a mentor and someone whom they can look to for inspiration and motivation.’
Source & image: University of KwaZulu-Natal
