9th Asian Congress of Urology
New Delhi, India
October 2-5, 2008
 

	Dr Narmada P Gupta, (India) Organizing Chairman
		Glimpses of 9th ACU
	Dr Rajeev Kumar, (India) Organizing Secretary

The 9th Asian Congress of Urology was organized by the Urological Society of India (USI) from 2-5th October, 2008 at The Hotel Ashok, New Delhi. A Pre-Congress Live Operative Workshop was held at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi on 1st October, 2008.

The congress was attended by 1,400 delegates from India and 50 other nations. Online submission of registration forms began more than a year in advance through the congress website. Nearly 60% of the attendees were from outside India. The faculty consisted of over 200 consultants, representing the best among Asia and the rest of the world. The scientific program was designed to cover all major areas of Urology including nursing care and reflected the theme ‘Minimal access urology-Asian perspective’.

During the operative workshop, live transmission of surgeries was done simultaneously from four operation theatres to the Jawaharlal Auditorium at AIIMS. Fourteen surgeries including robotic surgery, laparoscopy, artificial urinary sphincter, bipolar TURP and various types of laser prostatectomy were demonstrated. About 450 delegates attended the workshop and appreciated the quality of surgery and transmission including the 3-D transmission of robotic surgery. All surgeries were moderated from the auditorium with two-way communication between the audience and the surgeon.

The main congress was inaugurated on 1st October, 2008 in the Convention Hall of The Hotel Ashok. Organizing Chairman, Dr. Narmada P. Gupta; President UAA, Dr. Rainy Umbas; Secretary UAA, Dr. Masaru; President USI, Dr. Ajay Kumar and Organizing Secretary, Dr. Rajeev Kumar lit the ceremonial lamp and delivered their addresses. Renowned Indian classical dancer, Padmashree Geeta Chandran and her troupe gave a performance of Bharatnatyam dances and the inaugural function was followed by dinner.

The scientific deliberations of the main congress started from 2nd October with sub-specialty section meetings of eight specialties. These included the Asian Society of Uro-oncology, Asian Society of Endourology, Asian Society for Female Urology and Neurovesical dysfunction, Asian Society of Andrology, Renal Transplantation, Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery, Reconstructive Surgery and Pediatric Urology. These meetings were of four-hour duration each and 4 concurrent sessions were held in the morning and evening. The congress on 3rd, 4th and 5th October included plenary sessions, main sessions, parallel sessions and sponsored symposia. In the plenary sessions, lectures were delivered by eminent urologists from Asia and the rest of the world on various topics. These were followed by concurrent main sessions in different halls. In the afternoon, seven parallel sessions were held for discussion of posters, videos and a nursing workshop. Delegates gathered in large numbers in each session and every hall was full till the last hour of the congress on 5th October. 300 posters and 24 videos were presented by the delegates. All these activities were held within the main convention center with easy access to all sessions.

Two renowned urologists, Brig. Dr B Rautray from India and Dr Adibul Hasan Rizvi from Pakistan were conferred the Honorary membership of the UAA during this congress.

The congress had a full social program that began on the 30th September with a dinner for the workshop faculty. Another exclusive faculty and UAA Council dinner was held on the 2nd evening at the Indian Handicraft Emporium, New Delhi which also had folk dances from Rajasthan. Cultural evenings for the delegates were organized on the 1st, 3rd and 4th of October. On the evening of 3rd October, a Grand Gala Indian evening was organized in which a fashion show depicting the past, present and future of India was presented. This was followed by dinner with various Indian cuisines. On the evening of 4th October, there was a cultural program by Piano Maestro, Brian followed by a formal sit-down banquet dinner. For the accompanying persons, there were additional social programmes like Yoga, saree tying demonstration and complimentary sight-seeing tours for New and Old Delhi. Tours to see the Taj Mahal and other parts of India were arranged.

The trade exhibition included one platinum, 7 gold and 4 silver sponsors along with 50 exhibitors. The exhibition was organized in a centrally air-conditioned structured exhibition hall.

During the social program on 4th October, Dr. Narmada P. Gupta was installed as the President of the Urological Association of Asia by Dr. Rainy Umbas, outgoing President of UAA. Dr. Gupta addressed the gathering and informed them of his plans for the next 2 years. Dr. Ming Kuen Lai, Organizing Chairman for the 10th UAA gave his welcome address and invited delegates for the 10th UAA at Taipei, Taiwan.