Organized by Europe’s major association of pediatricians – European Paediatric Association (EPA) – the 10th Europaediatrics Congress was held in Zagreb. The Croatian Pediatric Society of the Croatian Physicians Association and Zagreb hosted such a significant pediatricians’ event for the first time in Croatia. It was held in hybrid format at the Westin Zagreb hotel from 7 to 9 October. This is at the same time the first European pediatric congress realized live since the start of the pandemic, with more than 800 participants attending the event in person.
Pediatrics as an independent discipline ensued from internal medicine after the realization that children were different from adults in terms of their anatomic and physiological characteristics and reactions to pathogenic microorganisms and other environmental stimuli. The first record of medical care for children dates from the 18th century, and the first hospital for stationary treatment was founded in 1802 in Paris. The first known institution for child protection in Croatia was an orphanage in Dubrovnik, mentioned in documents from the late 13th century. The first pediatrician in Croatia, Dr. Radovan Marković, founded the first pediatric department at the Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center in 1904.
Exchange of knowledge and experiences with more than 200 top experts from around the world
The occasion of the 10th Europaediatrics Congress in Zagreb created a unique opportunity for local paediatricians to exchange their knowledge and experiences with global experts for the purpose of bettering and advancing Croatian paediatrics.
Close to 200 lecturers from Ireland, Great Britain, Portugal, Italy, Turkey, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, India, the USA and Croatia presented their papers in 18 subspecialist pediatric areas. The Congress gathered more than 1,500 participants, and it was available for live online viewing. It was held alongside the 14th Congress of the Croatian Pediatric Society and the 13th Congress of the Pediatric Section of the Croatian Nurses Association, and the technical organizer was the PCO agency A.T.I. d.o.o. from Pula.
The latest scientific insights were presented at the Congress in various pediatric areas and associated pediatric professions. The presentation topics covered treatment and prevention of acute and chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity and allergy prevention in children from the earliest age. Alongside regular scientific topics, those most current ones were included as well, such as mental health and vaccination and the complex issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Social program – getting to know Zagreb and Croatian cultural heritage
The working part of the Congress was complemented by social and entertainment events aimed at introducing international guests to Zagreb and Croatia’s rich cultural heritage. The Children’s Folklore Ensemble and the Academic Choir Ivan Goran Kovačić delighted the visitors with their performance and showed them a small part of Croatia’s vast tradition. At the opening ceremony, the Children’s Folklore Ensemble performed the songs and dances of the Međimurje region and the Zagorje Wedding.
