The 8th International Health Sciences and Life Congress was successfully completed

The 8th International Health Sciences and Life Congress (IHSLC 2024) took place at Lavanta Hotel with intense participation. The congress, attended by representatives from academic circles as well as public institutions and local governments, became a platform where scientific production and social responsibilities came to the forefront.

“Congresses are the festivals of academia”

The opening program of the congress was held under the management of Congress President Assoc. Prof. Mümin Polat. In the opening, Assoc. Prof. Mümin Polat, MAKÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar, and Burdur Mayor Ali Orkun Ercengiz gave speeches in order.

In his speech, Assoc. Prof. Polat emphasized the 8-year journey of the congress and its development during this process, highlighting the value of such scientific gatherings with the words, “Congresses are the festivals of academia.” Thanking all the academics who contributed, the organizing committees, and the supporting institutions, Polat said, “Each paper is a valuable gift presented to the world of science.”

Rector Dalgar: “Academia is the guide of society”

MAKÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar, in his speech, pointed out that the congress has gained an institutional identity, saying, “As a social scientist, I see that health and life sciences play a critical role in the future of society,” he said. Expressing that the university should not be limited to just academic production, Dalgar stated that the university directly contributes to social, environmental, and economic issues in Burdur. Dalgar also emphasized that each department should organize international congresses in its own field.

Mayor Ercengiz: “Health should be addressed with a holistic approach”

Burdur Mayor Ali Orkun Ercengiz, in his opening speech, underlined that health is not only an individual but also a societal issue. “A healthy society exists with healthy cities, nature, animals, and the environment,” said Ercengiz, mentioning Burdur Municipality’s membership in the European Healthy Cities Network and the sustainability efforts carried out in this direction. He highlighted the importance of evaluating the relationship between health and the environment in a holistic manner.

The panel ‘The Role of Local Governments in Disasters’ attracted great interest

One of the notable sessions of the congress was the panel “The Role of Local Governments in Disasters.” In the panel moderated by Dr. Lecturer Gülhan Şen from MAKÜ Faculty of Health Sciences, Burdur Mayor Ali Orkun Ercengiz shared the responsibilities and solution proposals of local governments regarding disaster management. The panel emphasized the importance of knowledge, resources, and cooperation in creating disaster-resilient cities.

620 Papers Presented in 65 Sessions

During the congress, 620 oral papers were presented on many current topics such as disaster management, public health, digital health technologies, elderly health, post-pandemic health policies, and environmental health. The papers, carefully selected from approximately 850 applications, were shared with participants in 65 different sessions. There were also online participations from abroad.

Knowledge Should Turn into Practice

In the general evaluation session held at the end of the congress, the view that the scientific accumulation obtained should be applied in cooperation with local governments came to the forefront. A consensus was reached on increasing university-public cooperation and spreading thematic studies at the national level.