The “Congress in All Aspects: Child Health” program was organized by Üsküdar Scientific Research Community (ÜSKÜBAT) of Üsküdar Üniversitesi, under the leadership of the Department of Health, Culture, and Sports. Child health in all its aspects was discussed at the symposium, which was attended by academics from various universities and specialist physicians.
The congress organized by Üsküdar Üniversitesi Scientific Research Community took place in the Ibn-i Sina Auditorium of the Faculty of Health Sciences.
On the first day of the two-day congress, Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, delivered his speech titled ‘The Child Diseases and Health Dimension of Public Health’.
Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur: “We need to invest in children”
Emphasizing the importance of child health and describing childhood periods, Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur said; “Child health is very important. The life stage a person goes through from birth to their eighteenth birthday is called childhood. It is possible to divide this eighteen-year period into some sub-periods when evaluating the development process in terms of the human body, soul, and mind. Infancy, play childhood, school childhood, and adolescence are classified as four main subgroups. This is how it is in medicine, but there are much more distinguishing classifications. For example, you can examine infancy in ten groups. Children are different from adults. If we know these differences, our approach to children will be different from our approach to adults in our medical life, or if we are going to be child development specialists, or midwives, nurses, we will become more effective in our profession. If health is not sufficiently monitored during childhood, if you say they grow up by falling and getting up, the child will suffer the consequences when they reach thirty or forty. We need to invest in children.”
“We need to approach each country according to its own realities”
Highlighting that interventions in health or poor health conditions can have long-term effects, Sur stated; “We should not think of this as short-term; public health professionals see it this way. Whether or not something is considered a public health problem, and what actions to take or not take regarding them, differs from society to society, culture to culture. What is considered a disease in some cultures is considered natural in others. We need to approach each country according to its own realities. Children's bodies are different from adults'. Their mental states are also different. This is so important that a health profession has been established solely for these two. Developing today's children, who are the most important future determinants of public health, means the emergence of healthy generations in the future. Children are more likely to get sick. Those who do get sick, get seriously ill. Children's ability to protect themselves from injury is less developed. They breathe more air per kilogram of body weight than adults. They need to grow.”
On the first day of the two-day congress; Prof. Dr. Bülent Bayraktar from Istanbul Üniversitesi delivered his presentation titled ‘Sports in Child Development’, Prof. Dr. Rukiye Nurten Eken Ömeroğlu from Memorial Hastanesi Child Health and Diseases presented ‘Acute Rheumatic Fever’, Prof. Dr. Erbuğ Keskin from Istanbul Üniversitesi presented ‘Female and Male Circumcision’, and Specialist Dr. Gizem Atakul from İstanbul Allergy delivered her presentation titled ‘Asthma in Infants and Children’.
Subsequently, a panel was held under the titles ‘Genital Organ Development and Mother-to-Infant HPV Transmission’ by Ankara Müjdegül Zayıfoğlu Karaca Clinic and Ankara Op. Dr. Meltem Aksu Clinic.
Prof. Dr. Murat Salim Tokaç and Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur performed a music recital at the organized congress.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Alkan from Istanbul Üniversitesi and Attorney İpek Biter Gündüz from İpek Biter Gündüz Law Office held a discussion titled ‘Child Neglect and Abuse in Forensic Cases’. Dr. Nida Hüroğlu from Private Cosmodent Oral and Dental Health Polyclinic shared her presentation titled ‘Approach to Children in Oral and Dental Care’ with the participants. The first day of the congress concluded after the social program held outside the school.
Prof. Dr. Nurper Ülküer: “The first 7 years are very important for child development”
On the second day of the congress, Prof. Dr. Nurper Ülküer, Head of the Child Development Department at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences, delivered her presentation titled ‘Primary Health Systems and WHO Criteria in Early Childhood Development’. Ülküer pointed out that child development is a serious issue and that what child development specialists aim to do is to establish good communication between parents and children; “What we want to do is to establish good communication between parents and children. Child development is a serious issue. We tell beautiful stories, we always emphasize the importance of child development, but gradually, this subject has taken on a more serious and scientific identity. When we talk about the holistic development of a child, all children have the right to be physically healthy, mentally alert, socially competent, emotionally positive, and capable of learning, making the best start in life. We are talking about a development process that brings all these characteristics together. The first 7 years are very important for child development. Negative experiences and traumas have a significant impact on the brain. Stress affects brain development and synapse development in the brain. Generally, there are 3 types of stress: one is normal stress, which is beneficial stress. Exam stress is a beneficial stress; you will feel that stress to study. The second type is tolerable stress, which may not have much impact on brain development and damage formation. The third is toxic stress; stresses that continue for a very long time create toxic stress and affect brain development.”
Subsequently, Lecturer Uğur Tutkun from Medipol Üniversitesi shared his presentation titled ‘Fairy Tale Therapy in Adolescents and Children’ with the participants. Specialist Dr. Hülya Bingöl Çağlayan from Cerrahpaşa Üniversitesi delivered her presentation titled ‘ADHD and Its Treatment’, and Specialist Dr. Murat Palabıyık from Elit İstanbul Medical Center presented ‘Childhood Vaccinations and Immunization’.
Within the scope of the program, Prof. İrfan Serdar Arda from Medical Park Hastanesi presented ‘Undescended Testis’, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elif Söbü from Memorial Hastanesi presented ‘Diabetes in Children’, and Prof. Dr. Ahmet Akçay shared his presentation titled ‘Food Allergy in Children’ with the participants.
Following the Q&A session and plaque presentation, a group photo was taken. Afterward, the speakers and participants visited the exhibition area set up by the students. The students' work received great appreciation.
Workshops on various topics were also organized within the scope of the symposium.
Various games were played, competitions were held, and participants had a fulfilling workshop experience.
