A total of 114 delegates from 23 countries gathered in Abidjan last Wednesday (12 July) for the opening of a five-day seminar on the role of medical and social workers in the development of Africa.

The seminar was organised by the International Committee of Catholic Nurses and Medical and Social Assistants.

The participants discussed subjects of mutual interests and exchanged ideas on how to better go about their work.

The Conference was held at Abidjan's National Institute of Public Health. The first session was opened by the Ivorian Minister of Labour, M. Albert Vanis Bi Tra, and in the presence of the Ivory Coast's Minister of State, M. Blaise N'dis Koffi.

The last seminar of its kind was held in Accra, Ghana in 1969.

Some of the representative were from Rhodesia and South Africa -- the first time that delegates from these two countries had attended an international conference in Abidjan.

The President of the Ghanaian delegation, Mrs Lucy Effah, addressed the conference in English:
Labour Minister Bi Tra also addressed the conference in French, commenting on the role of the participants in the development on Africa.

SYNOPSIS: Abidjan's National Institute of Public Health was the scene of last Wednesday's opening of a seminar on the role of African social and medical workers in developing Africa.

The five-day seminar was attended by 114 delegates from 23 countries.

Arriving for the opening of the first session was the Ivory Coast's Minister of State, M. Blaise N'dia Koffi.

The seminar was sponsored by the International Committee of Catholic Nurses and Medical and Social Assistants.

Among the delegates were representatives from Rhodesia and South Africa. It was the first time that delegations from these two countries had attended an international conference in Abidjan. The President of the Ghana delegation, Mrs Lucy Effah, thanked the Ivory Coast for sponsoring the seminar:
Ivorian Labour Minister Albert Venie Bi Tra also addressed the conference, in French.......the Minister commented on the contribution of the participants in the development of African countries.

The last conference of its kind was held three years ago in Accra, Ghana.