Between 14 January and 25 January 2024, Prof Ilona Anna Kopyta visited the Children’s Hospital in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
The visit was the result of Prof Kopyta’s collaboration with Dr Manish Parakh, head of the Department of Paediatrics and Paediatric Neurology, and jointly conducted research on paediatric stroke. Prof Kopytyz and Dr Parakh lead a working group called GAPSER ( Global Alliance on Pediatric Stroke Epidemiology and Resources) , which is part of IPSO( International Pediatric Stroke Organisation).

The Professor acted as a visiting professor at the hospital.

The Department of Paediatrics and Neurology of Umiad Hospital, Jodhpur, visited by Prof Kopyta, has 600 beds, 4 MRI machines, more than 200 intensive care stations, including- neonatal; there is a unit within the hospital to treat the effects of malnutrition in children. In addition, as part of outpatient care, a team of paediatricians, paediatric neurologists and paediatric psychiatrists sees at least 80 outpatients, ordering the full spectrum of additional tests necessary to diagnose children with developmental problems or seizure disorders.

In addition, Professor Kopyta has given a series of lectures on cerebral palsy, developmental malformations of the central nervous system, paediatric and neonatal stroke and the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases, including gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).  As part of the training of resident doctors in paediatric neurology, the department discusses cases of currently hospitalised patients with a detailed presentation of their clinical condition and differential diagnosis; Prof Kopyta has acted as a consultant during these meetings.

Lectures on rare diseases and paediatric stroke were given as part of meetings of the Marwar Region Paediatric Society. Prof Kopyta’s visit has been reported many times in the press and on television in the state of Rajasthan, with a population of one hundred million.