Invitation
You will see from the provisional programme, that NASA 2013 is shaping up to be an extremely exciting event.
Our international speakers are all leaders in their respective fields. Stroke is high on the agenda with Professor Stephen Davis addressing the recent significant advances in the fields of acute stroke management and stroke prophylaxis, as well as the new approaches to anticoagulation. Neuroimmunology and neuromuscular disorders are strongly represented. Professor Angela Vincent will take us through the recently identified treatable autoimmune encephalitides and the widening spectrum of other immunotherapy responsive disorders, while Prof Bernd Kiesier will bring us up to date on current trends in the management of multiple sclerosis. We will be hearing about the dramatic new developments in the field of motor neurone disease research and other aspects of neuromuscular disease from Prof Michael Benatar.
We also have top notch local speakers lined up. Our opening address on Thursday evening will be delivered by Professor David Benatar of the UCT Philosophy Department who will be tackling the tricky subject of managing the end of life phase in terminally ill patients. Professor Jonathan Carr will present another of his popular practical video sessions on movement disorders while Professor Marc Solms will speaking on right brain function and running a workshop on practical neuropsychology for neurologists. Professor Marc Blockman will deal with the importance of adopting an evidencebased approach to drug-prescribing and Professors Jacqui Goldberg and Sue Kidson will tell us what we need to know about stem cell therapy in the context of neurological disease.
In addition to clinical neurologists, we are urging as many young neurology registrars, neuroscientists and graduate students as possible to attend NASA 2013 and present posters or platform presentations of their work. We are also encouraging African delegates (both clinicians and neuroscientists) from beyond our borders to register by reducing their registration fees. All in all, it should be an excellent opportunity for young medics and researchers from all over the African continent (and elsewhere) to network with their South African counterparts.
NASA 2013 promises to be something very special and we look forward to seeing you in the Stellenbosch winelands early next year.
Prof Alan Bryer
(Convenor NASA Congress 2013)
Organising Committee
Prof Alan Bryer Dr Lawrence Tucker Dr Eddy Lee Pan Prof Jeanine Heckmann Dr Kathy Bateman |
Congress Organisers
Londocor Event Management Tel: 011 768 4355 Fax: 011 768 1174 E-mail: sonja@londocor.co.za / kea@londocor.co.za |
Invited International Faculty
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Prof Michael Benatar (USA)
After qualifying from medical school at the University of Cape Town in 1992, Michael Benatar obtained a DPhil from Oxford in 1997. He returned briefly to Groote Schuur Hospital, before doing his residency and fellowship at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre in Boston. In 2003 he moved to Emory University where he took up assistant and later associate professorships in Neurology and Epidemiology. For the past 2 years he has been associate professor of neurology at Miami University where he is chief of the Neuromuscular Division and holds the Walter Bradley Chair in ALS Research. Michael has published extensively in the fields of motor neurone disease, neurophysiology, myasthenia gravis, neuroimmunology and evidence based medicine. He is on the editorial boards of the American Journal of Medical Sciences, the Cochrane Collaboration Neuromuscular Group, Muscle & Nerve and Neuromuscular Disorders. Michael has been the recipient of awards for excellence in teaching from Harvard and Emory Universities, as well as from the American Academy of Neurology. |
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Prof Stephen Davis (Australia)
Stephen Davis is Professor of Neurology at the University of Melbourne and Director of Neurosciences at the Royal Melbourne Hospital where he heads up the Comprehensive Stroke Centre. He is the current president of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists and a past-president of the Stroke Society of Australasia, and the first co-chair of the Australasian Stroke Trials Network. He is a board member of the World Stroke Association and the associate editor for the journals Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases. In 2004, he received the MJ Eadie Award from the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists for career achievements in Neuroscience research and, in 2008, he was awarded the Minister's Award for outstanding individual achievement in Public Healthcare, (Victoria, Australia). He holds an NHMRC program grant for research into stroke has co-authored 3 books, written numerous chapters and published over 300 peer-reviewed papers. His major research interests include clinical trials in acute stroke therapies and stroke prevention, and the use of neuroimaging in the selection of acute stroke treatments. |
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Prof Angela Vincent (UK)
Angela Vincent is a fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences as well as the Royal Colleges of Pathologists and Physicians. She is emeritus professor of Neuroimmunology at Oxford University and holds an honorary doctorate from Bergen University. She qualified in 1966 at Westminster Hospital Medical School but soon turned to laboratory science, starting with an MSc in Biochemistry at University College, London. While still at UCL, she was involved in some of the earliest studies on the role of acetylcholine receptors in myasthenia gravis and congenital myasthenic syndromes. In 1977 she joined John Newsom-davis at the Royal Free Hospital and, together, they set up the Neurosciences Group which moved to the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford, in October 1988. Professor Vincent has headed up the Neurosciences Group since Newsom Davis retired in 1998. From 1992 she has held a university lectureship in clinical neuroimmunology and was appointed as an honorary consultant in immunology. Between 2005 and 2008 she was head of the department of Clinical Neurology at Oxford, and she heads the Brain Theme of the recently awarded OU/ORHT Biomedical Research Centre. She is a past president of the International Society of Neuroimmunology and an associate editor of Brain. She has established a national and international referral centre for the diagnosis of immune-mediated neurological diseases. Her main interest is in the role of autoimmunity in neurological diseases including multiple sclerosis and auto-antibody-mediated ion channel and receptor disorders. |
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Prof Bernd C. Kieseier (Germany)
Bernd C. Kieseier received his undergraduate training at the Johannes-Gutenberg University of Mainz, Germany and the Medical School of West Virginia University, Morgantown, USA. After graduation as MD in 1994 he worked as an immunology fellow at the New York State Institute for Basic Research in New York, USA, followed by stays at the Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio. He received training in Neurology at the University of Würzburg, Germany and the University of Graz, Austria, where he became Professor of Neurology in 2001. Since December 2001 he is affiliated to the Department of Neurology at the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, where he is Vice-Chair of the Department and Head of the MS Outpatient Clinic. His major clinical and research interests beyond general neurology are in the field of experimental and clinical neuroimmunology with a focus on multiple sclerosis and immune-mediated neuropathies. He has authored or co-authored more than 250 articles in peer reviewed journals, written more than 40 book chapters and edited 3 books on neurology, neuroimmunology, peripheral nerve diseases and multiple sclerosis. Professor Kieseier participated in various clinical trials on MS as principle investigator, and is member of the medical advisory board of the German MS Society and member of the German Competence Network Multiple Sclerosis (KKNMS). |
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Dr Christopher Chen Li-Hsian
Dr Christopher Chen Li-Hsian is a Senior Clinician-Scientist at the National Medical Research Council of Singapore and Associate Professor at the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore. He read for the Medical and Natural Science Tripos at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University, graduating in Physiology & Psychology in 1982. His clinical training was at the University of Oxford from where he graduated in 1985. In 1990, he was elected the Janssen Junior Research Fellow at Worcester College, Oxford University and was a Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of Neurology, London. His major research and clinical interests are the neurochemistry, molecular biology and treatment of stroke and dementia. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters, served on several editorial boards, trial steering committees and data safety monitoring boards. Since returning to Singapore in 1995, Dr Chen has developed a comprehensive multi-disciplinary dementia programme and encouraged collaborative research in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. In addition, he has developed a Trials Unit focusing on stroke and dementia with extensive international collaborations. Currently he is Secretary of the Asian Society Against Dementia; member of the Finance Sub-Committee of the World Federation of Neurology, International Stroke Society Board of Directors, International Society for Vascular Behavioural and Cognitive Disorders Executive Committee and the Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer Research and Treatment (ISTAART) Advisory Committee. |
Programme (Subject to change)
Thursday
March 14th, 2013
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15h00-17h00
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Workshop: Bedside Neurocognitive Assessment for
Neurologists.
(Limited to 30 participants - fully booked) |
Prof Mark Solms
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16h30
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Registration opens
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16h25
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Official welcome to NASA annual
conference
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Prof Alan Bryer
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17h30-18h30
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Keynote address (Ethics): Assisted
death for patients with terminal neurological conditions: Right or wrong?
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Prof David Benatar
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18h40-19h30
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Welcome and Cocktail Function
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Friday
March 15th, 2013
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07h45-08h30
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Pharmaco Breakfast Symposium:
New Developments in Neurorestorative Therapies |
Prof Christopher Chen
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CHAIR: Dr Lawrence Tucker
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08h45-09h45
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Autoimmune Encephalitis - a
widening spectrum of
Immunotherapy-Responsive Disorders |
Prof Angela Vincent
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09h45-10h30
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Neuropsychology of the Right
Hemisphere
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Prof Mark Solms
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10h30-11h00
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Tea
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CHAIR: Prof. Alan Bryer
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11h00-11h50
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Advances in Acute Stroke Treatment
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Prof Stephen Davis
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11h50-12h40
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Neuromuscular Update
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Prof Michael Benatar
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12h40-13h45
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Lunch (Poster Viewing, discussion
and networking)
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CHAIR: Dr Anand Moodley
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Clinical neuroscience Session
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13h45-14h05
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Stem-Cells: what clinical
neurologists should know
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Profs Kidson & Jacqui Greenberg
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14h05-14h30
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Multisystem Proteinopathy:
Implications for ALS/MND
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Prof Michael Benatar
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14h30-14h55
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Subverting inhibition: excitatory
GABAergic signalling
during epileptic seizures |
Dr Joseph Raimondo
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15h00-16h00
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Session ONE: Platform Presentations – selected abstracts for
presentations of 10 minutes each
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16h00- 16h20
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Tea
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16h20-17h20
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Session TWO: Poster Presentations - selected abstracts for
presentation of 3 minutes each
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17H20 - 18H00
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Session THREE: selected abstracts for walk about &
networking
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19h00
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Litha Pharmaceuticals sponsored
Dinner Symposium
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Saturday
March 16th,2013
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08h00-09h00
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Boehringer-Ingelheim Sponsored
Breakfast Symposium: Current State of Secondary Stroke Prevention
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Prof Stephen Davis
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CHAIR: Prof Jeannine Heckmann
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09h15-10h15
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Update and challenges in
understanding Neuromuscular
Junction Disorders |
Prof Angela Vincent
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10h15-10h30
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Accuracy of the Xpert MTB/Rif test
for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in adults in Cape Town, South
Africa: an observational cohort
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Dr K Bateman
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10h30-10h45
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Respiratory chain disorders in
South Africa: (i) recent advances into their biochemical investigation (ii)
the clinical spectrum of those with molecular confirmation
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Dr I Smuts & Dr G Riordan
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10h45-11h15
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Tea
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CHAIR: Prof Girish Modi
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11h15-11h45
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Evidence: do we need it?
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Prof Marc Blockman
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11h45-12h30
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Evidenced-based approach in
Neuromuscular Disease
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Prof Michael Benatar
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12h30-13h30
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Lunch
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CHAIR: Prof Jonathan Carr
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13h30-14h15
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Cerebrovascular Contributions to
Cognitive Impairment and Dementia
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Prof Christopher Chen
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14h15-15h00
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Advanced Neuroimaging in Stroke
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Prof Stephen Davis
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15h00 - 15h30
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Managing a patient with Multiple
Sclerosis
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Prof Bernd Kieseier
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15h30 - 16h00
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Tea
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16h00-17h00
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NASA Annual General Meeting
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19h00
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NASA Congress Dinner and Awards
(Protea Hotel Stellenbosch) |
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Sunday
March 17th, 2013
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08h15-09h15
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Viking Breakfast Symposium:
Which treatments work best in immune-mediated neurological diseases, and do we know why? |
Prof Angela Vincent
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CHAIR: Prof Dali Magazi
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09h30-10h20
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Piecing together the Puzzle of ALS:
an Emerging Picture
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Prof Michael Benatar
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10h20-11h10
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Movement Disorders Video
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Prof Stephen Davis
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11h10-11h20
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Close
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11h30-12h00
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Tea and light refreshments
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NASA thanks Viking and the National Bioproducts Institute for co-sponsoring Professor Angela Vincent's travel expenses; Boeringer for covering the cost of Professor Stephen Davis' travel and accommodation, and Aspen for making a substantial contribution to Professor Michael Benatar's travel expenses.
General Information
Your registration fee includes:
Admission to all scientific sessions for the duration of the congress including breakfast symposia and Pre-Congress Workshops
Admission to all scientific sessions for the duration of the congress including breakfast symposia and Pre-Congress Workshops
· Congress bag
· Programme and abstract book and other
congress material
· Luncheons and teas
·
Admission to welcome cocktail function.
Please refer to the registration form for cost of the NASA Congress dinner
Cancellation of Registration
Notice of cancellation must be given in writing. Any cancellations received two weeks or less prior to the congress will result in a 100% cancellation fee. Visit the website www.mynasa.co.za for all registration information or see the enclosed registration form.
Flights
Should you require any flight reservations, please contact:
Club Travel Karen Ashley (Travel Consultant) Tel: +2711 760 1660
or E-mail karena@clubtravel.co.za
Or visit the website: www.flysaa.com www.1time.co.za www.flymango.com
Transfers
Please contact Ismail Orrie
African Travel and ToursC: +27 (0) 72 936 2271 F: 086 756 9320 website:
www.africantravelandtours.co.za
Personal Insurance
Please note that all delegates are responsible for their own travel insurance, medical insurance and cancellation fees.
Language
The congress will be conducted in English. No translation service will be available.
CPD Accreditation
The congress, as well as the pre-congress workshops and trade sponsored symposia, will be CPD accredited.
Please refer to the registration form for cost of the NASA Congress dinner
Cancellation of Registration
Notice of cancellation must be given in writing. Any cancellations received two weeks or less prior to the congress will result in a 100% cancellation fee. Visit the website www.mynasa.co.za for all registration information or see the enclosed registration form.
Flights
Should you require any flight reservations, please contact:
Club Travel Karen Ashley (Travel Consultant) Tel: +2711 760 1660
or E-mail karena@clubtravel.co.za
Or visit the website: www.flysaa.com www.1time.co.za www.flymango.com
Transfers
Please contact Ismail Orrie
African Travel and ToursC: +27 (0) 72 936 2271 F: 086 756 9320 website:
www.africantravelandtours.co.za
Personal Insurance
Please note that all delegates are responsible for their own travel insurance, medical insurance and cancellation fees.
Language
The congress will be conducted in English. No translation service will be available.
CPD Accreditation
The congress, as well as the pre-congress workshops and trade sponsored symposia, will be CPD accredited.