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Enriched participants lavish praise on Medicine Conference

FIFA-AFC Football Medicine Regional Course

Participants lavished huge praise on the closing day of the Football Medicine Regional Course jointly organised by FIFA, AFC and All India Football Federation. The five-day course which kicked-off on January 14 came to a close on Friday (January 18) at the Le Meridien Hotel in the Capital.

The Course was attended by 42 participants (doctors) from 12 countries including 12 Indian doctors who went back ‘enriched’ after being ‘taught’ by Prof. Jiří Dvořák, Head, Chief Medical Officer, FIFA; Dato Gurcharan Singh, Chairman, AFC Medical Committee and Prof. Shane Brun, FIFA and AFC Medical Instructor, amongst others.

“The idea was to educate doctors (both from India and abroad) to deal with Medical Emergencies, promote health and promote and safeguard safety and medical organisation of a Tournament. Many participants told me that the practical oriented sessions were something which they had never been part of,” Dr. Manabendra Bhattacharya, Chief Medical Consultant, AIFF told AIFF Media.

“I found out the participants to be knowledgeable but also found out that most didn’t have the opportunity to practice on a daily basis,” Dato Gurcharan Singh maintained. “We tried to prepare them for a better tomorrow.”

Prof. Brun, standing next added: “Doctors can bring in such a massive change to the society. Across the World, it’s important they enjoy the support of the Government as well as their colleagues.”

Iranian Lady Doctor, Dr. Zohreh Haratian admitted that she goes back “enriched.”

“I’m grateful to what my Professors have taught me,” she said. “I promise to go back to my country and share it with everyone.”

Pakistani doctor, Fazal-ur-Rahman who was one of the attendees felt the Course helped him gain “more exposure.”

“If I am able to implement even 50 percent of what I have been taught, I know I will be able to make a difference in my country,” he maintained.

AFC Medical Officer, Dr. Nisith Ranjan Chowdhury, thanked AIFF for bringing such a “Course to India.”

“There has been no FIFA-AFC affiliated Medical Conference in the region (SAFF) in the last ten years or even more. Doctors need to keep themselves abreast with the developments which is not always the case. This Course bridged the gap,” he opined.

The day also saw the participants visiting the WADA Accredited Doping Laboratory besides a session conducted on ‘Fight against Doping’ and ‘Supplements in Doping’ by Prof. Dvořák and Dato Gurcharan Singh. Certificates were handed out to all the participants at the closing ceremony.

(AIFF Press Release)