12th National Conference of AIAMSWP Inaugurated at Assam down town University
The two-day conference at Assam down town University brings together medical social workers, healthcare professionals, academicians and researchers to discuss emerging challenges and developments in healthcare and social work.
GUWAHATI- The 12th Annual National Conference of the All India Association of Medical Social Work Professionals (AIAMSWP) was inaugurated at Assam down town University (AdtU), Guwahati, on Wednesday, bringing together medical social work professionals, academicians, healthcare practitioners, researchers and students from across the country.
The two-day conference, being held on September 30 and October 1, is organised by the Programme of Social Work, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, Assam down town University, in collaboration with down town Hospital, Guwahati, and with support from the Indian Council of Social Science Research–North Eastern Regional Centre (ICSSR-NERC).
The conference is centred on the theme, “Medical Social Work as a Catalyst for Viksit Bharat: Integrating Indigenous Knowledge, Ethics and Holistic Healthcare.” The discussions focus on the changing role of medical social workers in patient-centred care, psychosocial support, professional ethics, mental healthcare, indigenous knowledge and holistic approaches to healthcare.
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The inaugural session began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, followed by a welcome address by Dr. Prateeti Barman, Dean (i/c), Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, Assam down town University, and Convener of the conference.
Prof. Ashok Puranik, Executive Director, AIIMS Guwahati, inaugurated the conference as the Chief Guest. In his address, he highlighted the importance of multidisciplinary approaches to healthcare and the contribution of social work professionals in addressing the social and psychosocial dimensions of health.
The Guest of Honour, Prof. Sonia Pereira Deuri, Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatric Social Work, LGBRIMH, Tezpur, emphasised professional social work practice in mental healthcare and the need for ethical and holistic approaches in supporting individuals, families and communities.
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Prof. N.C. Talukdar, Vice-Chancellor of Assam down town University, stressed the importance of collaboration between academic institutions and professional organisations in strengthening healthcare education and practice.
The inaugural session was chaired by Ms. Gariasi Dutta, Chairperson of the 12th Annual National Conference, AIAMSWP. It also featured addresses by Raghavendra Kumar Rai, General Secretary, AIAMSWP; Akhilesh Kumar Tripathi, Vice President, AIAMSWP; and Dr. Udayan Baruah, Medical Superintendent, down town Hospital, Guwahati.
A notable part of the inaugural programme was the release of the Conference Souvenir and AIAMSWP Newsletter, providing a platform for academic and professional knowledge sharing.
Focus on Healthcare Education and Professional Standards
One of the major academic sessions was a symposium on “Strengthening the Education, Training and Professional Standards of Allied and Healthcare Professions for a Competent and Future Healthcare Workforce.”
The symposium was chaired by Prof. Sonia Pereira Deuri, with Aftab Alam Shah, Medical Social Welfare Officer, Grade 1, AIIMS New Delhi, and Dr. R. Jayalakshmi, Medical Social Worker, Department of Emergency Medicine, JIPMER, Puducherry, as co-chairpersons.
Kamalika Bhattacharjee, Psychiatric Social Worker, Department of Psychiatric Social Work, Institute of Psychiatry, CoE, Kolkata, served as moderator. Resource persons included Dr. Pomi Mahanta, Assistant Professor, TISS Guwahati, and Rituporna Dhar, Medico Social Service Officer Grade 1, AIIMS Guwahati.
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Another key session focused on mental health and holistic healthcare through a panel discussion titled “Beyond Physical Health: Integrating Mental Health into Holistic Healthcare through the AB-PMJAY Framework.”
The panel was chaired by Prof. Dr. N. Janardhana, Head, Department of Psychiatric Social Work, NIMHANS, Bengaluru. Prof. Om Prakash Singh of King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, and Dr. Shankar Mugave of B. J. Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, Pune, served as co-chairpersons.
R. Vijay Kumar, Medical Social Worker, Community Medicine, Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences, Karnataka, moderated the discussion. Resource persons included Leema Maiti, MSWO In-charge, AB-PMJAY, AIIMS New Delhi; Himanshu Dixit, Medical Social Service Officer Grade 1, AIIMS Raipur; and Manish Kumar Pathak, Medical Social Service Officer Grade 1, AIIMS Raipur.
Research and Knowledge Exchange
The conference also featured research paper presentations and a poster presentation, providing scholars and researchers from different parts of India an opportunity to share their findings and professional experiences.
The presentations covered areas including medical social work, psychiatric social work, mental health, psychosocial care, professional ethics, indigenous knowledge and holistic healthcare.
The organisers said the academic sessions are intended to facilitate exchange of research findings, professional experiences and ideas while strengthening networking among professionals and institutions working in healthcare and social work.
The conference proceedings will continue on October 1, with four additional technical sessions, paper presentations and other academic activities, followed by the valedictory session.
The conference is also aimed at strengthening collaboration among academic institutions, healthcare organisations and professional bodies, while providing a national platform for discussion on emerging issues and developments in medical social work.
