The Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) in collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund, is holding its 51st Annual general Meeting and Scientific Conference in Kano.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, the President of the association, Professor Agustine Amoigberale, said this year’s conference with the main theme, ‘The Impact of Rapid Population Growth on the Child’ would look into some research conducted as well as the
ongoing ones in the thematic areas, exchange ideas and proffer solutions to healthcare and the problem of nutrition among children.
Other sub-themes, he said, were, “Childhood Nutrition: The role of healthcare providers and policy makers”, “Critical care of the sick child: Bridging the gap” and “Addressing the childhood immunization.”
Prof. Amoigberale said it was pathetic to note that Nigeria holds the number 3 position among nations in terms of worst indices of child healthcare, only preceded by India and Pakistan. “So, that is one of the critical areas this conference is trying to address.
“We are bringing in professionals from UK, US and from all over the world, so that we can have cross fertilization of ideas with the aim of addressing these challenges. And at the end of the conference we will try to draw government’s attention to provide the needed infrastructure.”
Also speaking, the chairman, local organizing committee of the conference, Prof. Muutasim Ibrahim, said Kano State hosted the PAN conference last in 1991, adding that almost 30 years after, so much had changed in the country politically, economically and socially.
“All these have had an impact on the health and wellbeing of the child, the primary concern of this association,” he said.
On his part the Communication officer of UNICEF in Kano, Mr Rabiu Musa, said their organization was fully involved in the conference because it was all about children.
“This is critical and important for the Nigerian Child and all children globally, because this is about the wellbeing of children, about their survival and their stages in development. Therefore, as UNICEF, we are involved because it is completely about children and it is our mandate to protect the rights of children and their wellbeing.
Therefore, we are part of it very strongly, we are co-sponsoring the activity and we are participating very actively in all aspects of the conference as UNICEF.
