South Africa: Call for abstracts and notice of conference

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS AND NOTICE OF CONFERENCE

PRE CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS 15 MAY 2006

The Public Health Association of Southern Africa (PHASA) is pleased to
announce its Third Public Health Conference to be held in Johannesburg,
South Africa, from 15 th - 17th May 2006. The conference will be co-hosted
by PHASA, the Gauteng Department of Health, the University of the
Witwatersrand School of Public Health, the International Epidemiological
Association and the Health Systems Trust. This conference brings together
professionals working in all disciplines of public health to share research
findings pertinent to population heath in the Southern African Region.

The Conference Theme: "Making health systems work'

The conference will focus on two sub-themes -

* Decreasing the burden of disease and

* Increasing equity, effectiveness and efficiency.

ABSTRACT INFORMATION

Abstracts are invited from anyone working towards improving population
health through community, health service and health systems interventions
and people working at the policy level.

Abstracts under the theme of the burden of disease include such issues as:

* environmental health,

* occupational health,

* communicable diseases

* non communicable diseases, and

* epidemiology of diseases

This theme will present papers on disease burden, changing patterns of
disease, the consequences of disease burden both social and clinical, the
causes of disease burden again both social and clinical, violence against
women, etc.

Under the theme Equity Efficiency and Effectiveness , include such issues
as:

* addressing health systems research,

* health information systems,

* policy implementation,

* accountability,

* stewardship,

* research on equity and health and human rights,

* human resources for health.

Instructions for preparing the abstract document:

* The document must be named with the surname and initial of the first
author. If you submitting more than one abstract then use Arabic numerals to
distinguish between the different abstracts: e.g. Keller H 1, Keller H 2,
and Keller H 3.
* The abstract must be typed in single spacing, be clear and legible.
* The abstract must be submitted in English
* The abstract title in boldface, capital letters (uppercase) and
centred
* Author to be underlined (Please do not underline co-authors)
* Institutions affiliation, city, state or country of first author
only
* Where appropriate, the text may be structured using the following
headings: 1. Objectives, 2 Methods, 3 results, 4 conclusions
* No. of words for whole abstract (300, excluding Title, Authors and
Institutions)

Abstracts should be sent to [email protected] to reach us no later than
the 15th March 2006.

Authors will be informed whether their papers/posters have been accepted by
no later than 5 April 2006. Although every effort will be made to comply
with presenters' preferences, the final decision on whether a presentation
should be given as an oral paper or a poster remains with the Scientific
Programme Committee.

Please Note:

Acceptance of papers/posters does not in any way imply financial support to
attend the conference.

PowerPoint presentations will be requested from the authors shortly to
ensure a smooth running of the programme.

PowerPoint presentations should be submitted to [email protected] by 28
April 2006. This will eliminate presentation problems such as empty CD
brought to the conference, incorrect presentations, long time frames of
loading presentations, etc.

The conference organiser needs to obtain permission from you to give a copy
of your PowerPoint presentation to delegates who might request a copy. If
you do not wish your presentation to be copied, please notify the conference
organizer.

POSTERS
The Organising Committee wishes to emphasise that oral contributions and
poster presentations are equally important. Posters are simply an
alternative means of presenting information and data; they will not be
regarded as second-class work. Poster sessions will form a prominent
component of the scientific programme.

Please consider the following guidelines when preparing your poster. Please
also note that delegates will be allocated a poster board which accommodates
the below size of a poster. The organising committee will not be held
responsible for larger size posters and will not seek alternative places for
these posters.

Acceptance of papers/posters does not in any way imply financial support to
attend the conference.

Surface space of Poster Boards:
Height 2380 mm
Width 950 mm
Please note the average poster is 1000 mm high x 900 mm wide.

Details of display times and poster no (for boards) will be mailed to all
poster authors.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

All speakers, delegates and exhibitors must submit a registration form and
wear their name badges at all times. No casual attendance will be permitted.

Registration fees
The registration fee includes the following:

* access to all sessions
* conference materials
* refreshments and lunches each day
* courtesy transport at scheduled times
* Welcome Reception on 15 May 2006

Please note that the registration fee does not include accommodation, any
social events or tours.

Student Registration
Students will qualify for the reduced registration fee only if a letter from
their study leader, in support of their attendance, is accompanied with
their registration form. Students will not be permitted to attend the
conference if payments are received without the letter.

Local

Early registration

R1 800-00

(Deadline date: 15 March 2006)

Late/on site registration

R2 200-00

(Deadline date: 15 May 2006)

Day Registration

Early registration

R1 000-00

(Deadline date: 15 March 2006)

Late/on site registration

R1 400-00

(Deadline date: 15 May 2006)

Local students

Early registration

R1 300-00

(Deadline date: 15 March 2006)

Day Registration

Early registration

R800-00

(Deadline date: 15 March 2006)

Late/on site registration

R900-00

(Deadline date: 15 May 2006)

International
[Foreign delegates must pay an additional R100.00 for foreign transfer
costs. This does not apply to credit card payments]

Early registration

R1 900.00

(Deadline date: 14 March 2006)

Late and on site registration

R2 300.00

(Deadline date: 15 May 2006)

Day Registration

Early registration

R1 100.00

(Deadline date: 14 March 2006)

Late/on site registration

R1 500.00

(Deadline date: 15 May 2006)

Conference dinner
Local delegates R250.00
International delegate R300.00

Payment of fees
Payments can be made by personal cheque, credit card or bank/wire transfer.
Please clearly indicate the person/'s names on the deposit slip or your
registration no (this is received on receipt of your registration form) in
order for deposits to be linked to your registration. A copy of the deposit
slip must be faxed to +27 (0) 717-9359

Bank/wire transfers
First National Bank of South Africa (FNB), Braamfontein Branch, Johannesburg
Branch No. 251905
Account No. 62053727304
Account Name: Wits Commercial Enterprise

A copy of the deposit slip must be faxed to Brenda Lacey-Smith at +27 11
717-9359 clearly providing the name of the delegate and the conference on
the fax.

Cheques must be made payable to: Wits Commercial Enterprise

Cancellations
Cancellations must be sent in writing to Brenda Lacey-Smith, Wits Conference
Services
PHASA Conference, Private Bag 3, Wits, 2050 or fax +27 11 717-9359 or email
[email protected]

For cancellation before 5 May 2006, a cancellation charge amounting to 20%
of the registration fee will be deducted from the refund. No refund for
cancellations will be granted for any reason after 5 May 2006.

IMPORTANT DATES

Registration dates
Early registration deadline 15 March 2006
Late/on-site registration deadline, 15 May 2006
Cancellation deadline date, 5 May 2006

Abstract dates
Presentation submission deadline date, 15 March 2006

Exhibition deadline date
14 April 2006

Bursary deadline date
15 March 2006

Workshop registration deadline
14 April 2006

Accommodation and Transport booking deadline
14 April 2006

CONTACT DETAILS

Ms Brenda Lacey-Smith
Wits Enterprise
Tel: (011) 717 9354
e-mail: [email protected]

Dr R Jina
Wits School of Public Health
University of the Witwatersrand
7, York Road
Park Town, 2193
Johannesburg, South Africa
Tel: +27 11 717 2543
Fax: +27 11 717-2084
Email: [email protected]

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE WEBSITE: www.wits.ac.za/phasa