News Archive

Perth based charity, Australian Doctors for Africa (ADFA) today announced that two distinguished West Australian gastroenterologists associated with the charity have been honoured for their contribution to public health services in Madagascar following a Conference which convened Research Specialists, Specialist Physicians and NGO’s to discuss the heavy burden of Helicobacter pylori related disease, Schistosomiasis and other Gastro-intestinal diseases in Madagascar.

The two-day International Conference held on June 16 and 17, 2016 at the Akademic Malagasy in Antananarivo, Madagascar, included 2005 Nobel Laureate for Medicine and Scientific Patron for ADFA, Professor Barry Marshall, and West Australian Gastroenterologist Dr Digby Cullen, the Conference Director and long-time ADFA specialist volunteer. Professor Marshall was awarded the Commander of the National Order of Madagascar and Dr Cullen the Officer of the National Order of Madagascar - the first Australians to be recognised for the Order of Madagascar award.

The Conference, organised by ADFA in conjunction with the Association Medico-Churgicale de Gastro- Enterologie de Madagascar (AGEM), hosted more than 20 distinguished research specialists, specialist physicians and representatives of donor organisations with speakers from Australia, Switzerland, France, the United Kingdom and Madagascar. The conference was designed to focus on the enormous problems caused by Helicobacter pylori and Schistosomiasis in Madagascar with the primary aim being to highlight these problems and seek solutions from local and international communities to facilitate programs to reduce the death and misery of these diseases.

Professor Barry Marshall who together with Dr Robin Warren discovered Helicobacter pylori, with their first seminal publications in 1982 was the Keynote speaker for the event. Robin and Barry shared the 2005 Nobel Prize in Medicine.

Dr Graham Forward, Founder of Australian Doctors for Africa, said, “ ADFA were extremely proud to organise the conference in conjunction with AGEM. The ceremonial presentation of awards by the Malagasy Minister of Health on behalf of the President of Madagascar at the conclusion of the conference was testament to the impact that Professor Barry Marshall and Dr Digby Cullen have had in seeking solutions to gastro-intestinal diseases in Madagascar over the last ten years.”

Media references

For further enquiries, please contact Josephine Muir