NMSC very own staff in cultural
costumes lining up to welcome
the guest of honour

CEO Datuk (Dr) Saw Huat Seong
delivering his welcoming speech

The honourable Chief Minister of
Sarawak officiating the ceremony by striking the gong

Normah Board Chairman YBhg.
Tan Sri Bujang Nor presenting a
souvenir to Chief Minister of Sarawak

This time around, despite the current international uncertainties, the number of registered delegates from all over the world especially the Asian region have not been greatly affected. Commenting on participation of international delegates, the Right Honorable Chief Minister of Sarawak in his message in the Souvenir program congratulated the delegates and called their participation the epitome of "The Show must go on".

Issues and problems related to Aortic Valves were the main topics discussed at this year symposium. The Asian faculty that participated in this year's symposium confirms that we are indeed fortunate to have local talents who are concerned about what is best for our patients. The strong presence of members from the developed world on the hand shows the close bond that exists within our fraternity.

The first day began with a lecture demonstration on "Robotic Visualization Systems and New Technologies in Cardiac Surgery" by Mr. Hans Steinmann of Vista. This was later followed by an official opening ceremony by the Right Honorable Chief Minister of Sarawak, YBhg Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud who at this function announced that the State Government will go ahead with the construction of the first phase of the Sarawak International Medical Centre (SIMC). He reiterated the fact that the State Government was determined to have a heart centre in Kuching in view of the long queue of the heart patients awaiting treatment at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur. He said concerted efforts were being carried out actively by the relevant parties to set up a heart hospital here. In addition, he said the medical fraternity could look into specializing in cancer and renal disease. These three areas of specialization will serve the state very well and our patients would not have to wait in the national queue for treatment.

Professor Carlos M. Duran

Section of the crowd at the Opening Ceremony

Tea Reception with some of the
Delegates

The second of the symposium commenced with a live demonstration of Ross Procedure, which was performed on a young man. The procedure was televised live from the Operating Room to the Auditorium.

This was later followed by a series of lectures; on Aortic Valve Repair Techniques by Carlos Duran, Aortic Valve Repair for Rheumatic Aortic Regurgitation in young patients by Dr. Nguyen Van Phan, Mechanical or Biological Heart Valve Prosthesis, what to use and when by Dr. Pia Myken. Experience with the Hankock II Valve for AVR in Young Patients by Dr. Zohair Al Halees and Systolic & Diastolic Performance Characteristics of Mechanical Aortic Valves by Dr. Peter Kleine.

The third day of the symposium included some fun time where delegates left the Hilton Hotel for Batang Ai Long House Resort for the Wet Labs session. While on transfer to the Batang Ai, delegates were shown around some tourist attraction such as the Semenggok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, lunch stop and experience of a typical outback village town of Lachau before proceeding to the next stop called the Sebelian Jetty.

Here, the delegates boarded a typical Iban long boat and enjoyed a 45 minutes ride through rapids to visit a traditional long house and be entertained by its residents.

In the evening at the Batang Ai Long House / Hotel Resort, the delegates were entertained to welcoming dinner hosted by the Honorable Minister of Tourism, YBhg Datuk Sri Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari and his Assistant Minister, Mr. Dublin Unting Ak. Ingkot.

On day 4 and 5 respectively was the Wet Labs session with more lectures in between and then followed by a mini symposium on The Ross Operation. Late in the afternoon was the closing ceremony by the Honorable Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak YB Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr. George Chan Hong Nam.

In the evening, delegates were taken for a one hour stroll through the rainforest with their feet firmly on the ground as well as sturdy wobbly canopy bridges with the Resort Resident Naturalists.