Dear Colleagues,
It is a great pleasure for me, on behalf of IFBLS, to welcome you all to the 29th World Congress of Biomedical Laboratory Science. The congress will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, June 6-10, 2010. This will be the first time in IFBLS’ fifty-five year history that the Congress is hosted in an African country. Our colleagues in Association of Kenya Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers (AKLMSO) are creating history on behalf of our professional community.

This World Congress will focus on communicable diseases. The main theme for the Congress is “The role of medical laboratory sciences in management of global health burden with emphasis on HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis”; with sub topics dealing with Cancer – malignancy in HIV/AIDS and Promotion of universal good laboratory practice and standards in diverse environments.

Communicable diseases are a challenge wherever you live in the world, but it is a fact that the impact that these diseases have on people’s health and quality of life depends on where you live and your economy. The diseases spread fast across borders and transcend social boundaries in an increasingly mobile world population.

HIV is a global pandemic and the number of persons living with HIV worldwide continues to increase. The HIV epidemic is severe in many resource-constrained countries. The most common route of HIV transmission worldwide is heterosexual transmission. We also know that the access and use of antiretroviral therapy varies a lot between low- middle- and high- income countries. The progression from initial infection with HIV to end-stage AIDS varies from person to person, and it can take more than 15 years. We also know that the access and use of antiretroviral therapy varies a lot between low- middle- and high- income countries.

The World Health organisations strategy to Universal access (meaning that prevention, treatment, care and support interventions are available, accessible and affordable to all who needs them) is; expanding testing and counselling, accelerating treatment scale up, maximising prevention and expanding and strengthening the health systems.

Our science and profession plays a vital role in the monitoring, development of new tests, obtaining new knowledge, and in the aspects of preventive health. The theme for the 29th World Congress is therefore highly relevant and important.

Each World Congress is a unique event that brings our profession forward through the scientific programme and through the interaction between the congress participants, as well as creating social and professional networks and friendship.

The Scientific Committee and the Organizing Committee from AKMLSO will work together with IFBLS to ensure that the Congress becomes relevant and has an impact on decision-making processes around the world.

It is of great importance that Biomedical Laboratory Scientists from all over the world are active in contributing to the scientific programme by submitting abstracts and participate in the Congress.

Kenya has a rich history, as well as wild life and scenery that is truly magnificent. I encourage everyone to take this opportunity to visit this fantastic country.

On behalf of the Board in IFBLS, I welcome you all to take part in a unique event: the first World Congress for Biomedical Laboratory Scientists held in Africa.

Sincerely yours,
Gry Andersen
President IFBLS