The 48th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) took place between 24th and 28th of January, 2017 at Hotel Seventeen, Kaduna, Kaduna State. 

 

The theme of the conference was Consolidating Child Health in Nigeria through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Gains and Gaps of the MDGs. The sub-themes were Emergence of the internally displaced Nigerian child -challenges and way forward; Sustaining child health-the role of parents, paediatricians and other professionals and Technological advances of the 21st century: effects on healthcare and development of the Nigerian Child. The keynote address was on Consolidating Child Health in Nigeria through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Gains and Gaps of the MDGs.

 

The opening ceremony held on the 25th January 2017 at the Abyssynia Hall of the Hotel Seventeen under the Chairmanship of Professor Ibrahim Garba, the Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. In attendance was the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Architect Barnabas Bala Bantex who represented the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, His Excellency Mallam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai. The Special Guest of Honour was the Honourable Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Folorunso Adewole who was represented by Professor Lawal Khalid mni, the Chief Medical Director of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria. An estimated 600 delegates and invited speakers (doctors, nurses and allied health workers) from across Nigeria and other parts of the world attended the conference. 

 

During the conference the following observations were made: 

1. The Association commends the efforts of Government in tackling insecurity in the country, especially the insurgency in the North East. 

2. Challenges of insecurity and dwindling National economy have impacted negatively on Child Health with resultant emergence of internally displaced Nigerian children, resurgence of Polio and outbreaks of Measles and Cholera. More than half of the internally displaced persons in Nigeria are children and are living in poor and unacceptable conditions for optimal physical, social and mental wellbeing. 

3. Some progress was made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as evident in the reduction of infant and under five mortality rates but neonatal mortality reduction has lagged behind. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are wider, more ambitious and require conscious efforts to expand access to health care services. 

4. The common causes of morbidity and mortality in the Newborn still remain Prematurity, Birth Asphyxia, Infections and Jaundice. Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) has been recommended by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) as a cost effective and efficient intervention in reducing the high morbidity and 

mortality in preterm and low birth weight babies at all levels of care. 

5. The Association commends the Government on the introduction of new antigens to the National Programme on Immunization (NPI). 

6. Although there has been enormous advancement in Medical Technology (Diagnosis and Therapeutics), Nigerian Children have benefitted minimally. 

7. The magnitude and spectrum of infectious diseases among Nigerian Children is grossly underestimated with Nigeria having the highest burden of tuberculosis in Africa. 

8. Whereas, the Government has put in place several policies and guidelines which have impacted on Child Health, professional associations like PAN are most times left out of policy formulation and emergency response to humanitarian crises. 

 

The Conference therefore made the following recommendations: 

1. Government should coordinate the activities of all agencies involved in the care and management of the internally displaced persons. It should also strengthen provision of essential services, rehabilitation and resettlement for displaced children. 

2. Lessons learnt from the Millennium Development Goals should be applied towards actualizing the Sustainable Development Goals. There need to be free medical care services to the vulnerable under-fives in Nigeria. 

3. There is an urgent need to scale up and strengthen cost effective interventions to reduce neonatal mortality such as use of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) and Chlorhexidine gel for cord care. 

4. Routine Immunization services in Nigeria should be strengthened and more new antigens introduced into the immunization schedule in line with global best practices. 5. Relevant recent advances in medical technology should be adopted and promoted to reduce childhood morbidity and mortality. 

6. The Paediatric Association of Nigeria as a major stakeholder and advocate on child health should be involved in the formulation, dissemination and implementation of policies and guidelines relevant to child health in Nigeria 

 

The Association commits itself to: 

1. Continuous Advocacy and support for the wellbeing of all Nigerian children especially the Internally Displaced. 

2. Training and re-training of health care workers on essential life-saving skills towards reduction of childhood morbidity and mortality. 

3. National and international collaborations and networking in the area of child health. 

 

Dr. Ngozi Ibeziako National President

Dr Agozie C. Ubesie National Secretary