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IFOS Notes:
IFOS General Assembly, Visas for World Congress
Dear IFOS Members and Applicants,
On behalf of the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO), I would like to thank members of the International Federation of Ophthalmological Societies (IFOS) for your support in 2005. We also appreciate the interest of those who have applied to become IFOS members and wish you all a healthy and productive New Year.
In this issue of "IFOS Notes," I report on:
- the agenda for the IFOS General Assembly in February
- visa requirements for the World Ophthalmology Congress in São Paulo
- yellow fever vaccinations for the Congress
- the deadline for paying IFOS dues.
To review previous "IFOS Notes," see: www.icoph.org/news/ifos.html.
1. Agenda for IFOS General Assembly on February 21
ICO Secretary General Bruce Spivey, MD, has sent formal notification and a draft agenda for the 2006 IFOS General Assembly to the official IFOS Representatives of member societies.
The Assembly will be from 11:00 to 14:00 on Tuesday, February 21 in Room 8 of the Transamérica Expo Center & Hotel in São Paulo, Brazil.
You can download the agenda as a PDF file from: www.icoph.org/pdf/ifosagenda06.pdf.
Rather than subject you to a series of reports on ICO programs at the General Assembly, we want to engage IFOS members in dynamic discussions on the challenges facing ophthalmology and future priorities and directions for the ICO. So the first two hours will focus on discussion of critical issues, with the third devoted to conducting IFOS business.
To put the discussions in perspective, we have asked Al Sommer, MD, ICO program director for research and former dean of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, to present a keynote talk on "Public Needs for Eye Care and the Role of the Ophthalmologist."
The agenda, background information on the ICO and reports on all programs will be included in agenda books that will be mailed to IFOS Representatives the third week in January.
2. Check Visa Requirements for Attending World Congress
If you plan to attend the World Ophthalmology Congress/XXX World Ophthalmology Congress, February 19 – 24, 2006 in São Paulo, Brazil, we recommend that you check with the Brazilian Consulate or Embassy in your country to find out if you are required to obtain a visa to enter Brazil.
Visas are required for visitors from the United States and some other countries, but not all. For more information, see: www.ophthalmology2006.com.br/tips3.php.
There are links to lists of Brazilian Consulates and Embassies in different countries at: www.mre.gov.br/ingles/endereco/endereco.asp.
3. Formal Invitation Needed To Attend the Congress?
If you need a formal invitation to the Congress in order to have your travel approved, see www.ophthalmology2006.com.br/letter.php for a link to a letter that you can download.
If that letter isn’t enough, contact ICO Secretary General Bruce Spivey, MD, at spivey@icoph.org and let him know what you need.
4. Vaccinations for Yellow Fever
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required of travelers to Brazil who arrive from or have visited any of the following countries within the past 90 days: Angola, Bolivia, Benin, Burkina, Cameroon, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, French Guyana, Gabon, Ghana, Gambia, Republic of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sudan, or Venezuela.
A yellow fever vaccination is advisable if you plan to visit any of the following states in Brazil: Acre, Amapa, Amazonas, Federal District, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Para, Rondonia, Roraima and/or Tocantins.
São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are not in those states, but they cover much of the rest of Brazil. Here’s a map showing the states and major cities: www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/americas/brazil_rel94.jpg.
5. Correct Web Site for the World Congress
Please note that the correct address for the Web site of the World Congress is: www.ophthalmology2006.com.br.
Individuals with no connection to the Congress have set up a bogus Web site at another similar address.
6. Please Send In Your IFOS Dues
A reminder that IFOS dues for 2006 should be paid as soon as possible, no later than January 15, 2006. Dues must be paid for IFOS Representatives to vote during the IFOS General Assembly on February 21.
ICO Treasurer Balder Gloor, MD, sent dues notices out in November to the treasurers and/or presidents of IFOS members and societies who have applied for membership. For questions, contact Dr. Gloor at bgloor@access.unizh.ch.
Looking forward to seeing you in São Paulo,
Fritz Naumann
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Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. G.O.H. Naumann
President of the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) (1998-2002-2006)
http://www.icoph.org
mailto:naumann@icoph.org
Professor Emeritus
Department of Ophthalmology
Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg
Schwabachanlage 6
D-91054 Erlangen
Germany
Telefon +49-91 31 / 85 3-44 77
Telefax +49-91 31 / 85 3-64 35
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