Morocco hosts congress of Mediterranean chemotherapy association

The Moroccan city of Marrakesh hosted this November 11-14 the 12th congress of the Mediterranean chemotherapy society that debated new chemotherapy techniques for the treatment of cancer, tuberculosis, aids, cholera and poliomyelitis.

The congress, held under the chairmanship of Mrs Hakima Himmich, Chairwoman of the Moroccan chemotherapy society, also debated the new generic drugs generation, access to tri-therapy in Maghreban countries and resistance to antibiotics.

Participants stressed the need for national strategies that take into account the characteristics of each country and to enlarge the scope of cooperation and partnership between chemotherapy specialists.

The establishment of a network of partnership and scientific research between the north and the south and the setting up of an African chemotherapy association were also on the agenda.

This is the first time that a Maghreban country hosts a congress of the Mediterranean society. Over 600 experts and specialists attended.

At a meeting with the press on the sidelines of the congress, Mrs Himmich announced that the UNAIDS Organization has pledged during this scientific encounter to assist Morocco in the tri-therapy treatment of aids-affected patients.

The assistance will reduce the treatment cost by 80%, a fact that will enable to multiply by five fold the number of patients benefiting from the tri-therapy treatment, Mrs Himmich said.

She also said that tuberculosis and sexually transmissible diseases, mainly aids, are the most dreadful contagious diseases in Morocco.

She called the government, the civil society and ngos to join efforts to contain the spread of these diseases in Morocco and in other African countries. She also underscored the role in international cooperation and partnership between governments and ngos to eradicate contagious diseases that kill thousands of persons in Africa every year.