Omicron Covid-19 Virus Update from South Africa- An insightful discussion

Dr. Shashank Joshi is a President IAD, Past President ESI and API, Member, COVID -19 Task Force, Maharashtra. MBBS, MD, DM, FACP, FRCP, FACE, An Indian endocrinologist, diabetologist and medical researcher. He was honoured by the Government of India, in 2014, by bestowing on him the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, for his services to the field of medicine. Graduated from Grant Medical College & Sir JJ Group of Hospitals (MBBS) and did residency in Internal Medicine (MD) with Gold Medals and First Rank for excellence. A Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, as well as a Fellow of the Indian College of Physicians (FICP) and American College of Physicians (FACP). A Fellow of the American College of Endocrinology (FACE) and the Chair of AACE Indian Chapter. Affiliated to several leading hospitals of the city including Lilavati and Bhatia Hospitals. Faculty, Department of Endocrinology, Seth G.S. Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai. Visiting faculty to several Indian and International Universities and is actively involved with evidence based work in Endocrinology including Obesity, Diabetes, Growth, Thyroid, and Osteoporosis.

Dr. A. Marthanda Pillai is a Managing Director of Ananthapuri Hospitals & Research Institute in Trivandrum. MS (Neuro), MNAMS (Neuro), FRCS, is an Indian neurosurgeon. In 2011 he was the recipient of a Padma Shri Award for medicine. He is the first former National President and former Vice-President of the Indian Medical Association in Kerala State to receive this national award.

Director Professor & Head Department of Community Medicine, & Sub-Dean MAM College. Delhi She has been in the field of Community Medicine since the last 36 years. She has professional and research experience with National and International Organizations viz. She has been conferred with the State Doctor’s Award for her meritorious services and also awarded State AIDS Award for contribution in the field of HIV/AIDS.

Dr. Chong Yeh Woei is a Senior Consultant Physician (Internal Medicine) at the Singapore Medical Specialists Centre. With more than 20 years of experience in private practice of internal medicine, he manages a wide spectrum of medical ailments. Being passionate in his practice, he listens and addresses the concerns of his patients and their family members. Dr. Chong studied medicine at the prestigious NUS on a Public Service Commission scholarship.

Dr. Alvin Yee-Shing Chan is a Treasurer, CMAAO, Vice Chairman, HKMACF.

Dr. Jamal Uddin Chowdhury is a Senior Central Executive Committee Member, Bangladesh Medical Association.

Dr. Monica Vasudev, MD is a board-certified allergist and clinical immunologist at Aurora Sheboygan Clinic in Sheboygan, WI.

Dr Angelique Coetzee is a National Chairperson of the South African Medical Association (SAMA). She has also served as the Acting General Manager of SAMA a member of the Board of Directors for the Foundation for Professional Development (FPD) and PPS.

Dr Prakash Budhathoky is a Director, Curative Service Division, Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal Treasurer, Nepal Medical Association.

Dr. Ravi Naidu is a Past President, Malaysian Medical Association, Malaysia.

Dr. Qaisar Sajjad is a ENT Specialist and ENT Surgeon. Dr. Qaisar Sajjad is among the Best ENT Specialist in Karachi. He has a MBBS, DLO (OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGY) and M.S. (ENT) degree along with an experience of 35 years. Dr. Qaiser had multi-facet personality. He carried out more than 26,000 surgeries during his public services. Currently he holds the post of Secretary General Pakistan Medical Association.

Dr Meenakshi Bamalwa Soni is a General Physician at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal.

Dr. Prof Salim Abdool Karim is a clinical infectious diseases epidemiologist who is widely recognised for his research contributions in HIV prevention and treatment. He is CAPRISA Professor for Global Health in the Department of Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. He is also Director of the Centre for the AIDS Program of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa and Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. His contributions to microbicides for HIV prevention spans two decades and culminated in the CAPRISA 004 tenofovir gel trial which provided proof-of-concept that antiretroviral drugs can prevent sexually transmitted HIV infection and herpes simplex virus type 2 in women. He is co-inventor on patents which have been used in several HIV vaccine candidates and his clinical research on TB-HIV treatment has shaped international guidelines on the clinical management of co-infected patients.

He is Chairperson Employed Doctors Advocacy Forum South African Medical Association

Dr Heidi Stensmyren is a President, Swedish Medical Association, President Elect, World Medical Association.