Organized by the “Georgian National Celiac Association” (GNCA), on 3 June at 12:00, at the hotel “Pullman Axis Towers,” the First International Celiac Congress will be held. Guests from five countries will attend the event. By special invitation, the congress’s guests of honor are doctor gastroenterologists: from Turkey, Mr. Hakan; from Italy, Mrs. Jacqueline Pante; and the head of the nutritional department of Demirtz and company Dr. Schar. Georgian doctors are also to be among the speakers: Mrs. Mariam Ghughunishvili, pediatrician-gastroenterologist (Givi Zhvania Academic Pediatric Clinic), and Mrs. Nino Kheladze, children’s endocrinologist (M. Iashvili Central Children’s Hospital).
“The goal of the congress is to share experience and news in the field of celiac disease in the medical sector, as well as to raise awareness among the general public,” said Keti Tabatadze, president of GNCA, who adds that GNCA’s awareness-raising campaign in Georgia started at the end of 2022, immediately after the establishment of the organization.
“This year, Georgia joined the International Celiac May Month campaign for the first time. International Celiac Day – May 16 was celebrated in Tbilisi for the first time, and several activities were held during the month,” she says. “Thanks to all partner organizations for their trust, support, and cooperation, thanks to our members and all the people who support us. The GNCA team will continue to work and we will periodically introduce news to the public. Our main goal is to improve the quality of life for all people diagnosed with celiac disease,” she noted.
Supporters of the event are the company Dr. Schar, Mrcheveli – Limbach Diagnostics European Group, Alliance Group, GPC, Europroduct, Georgita, Acto Pharma, Organika, Roxy and Primax.
“As the vice-president of the association, and first of all a parent, my goal is to show society, the state, and medical structures through the congress that ‘together, the hard road is easy.’ This is our slogan. It is important to share and receive information and adapt it to local realities. This is the European road, the road to European integration,” said Gvantsa Bliadze, the vice-president of GNCA.
The National Celiac Association of Georgia is cooperating with the Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS) to become a member, which, as stated in GNCA, means even more education, more news, and better living conditions for people with celiac disease- for the people of Georgia.