COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 56TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE HELD FROM MONDAY 20TH TO FRIDAY 24TH JANUARY 2025 AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE, GOMBE, GOMBE STATE.

The Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) convened its 56th Annual General Meeting and Scientific (Hybrid) Conference (PANConf 2025) at the International Conference Centre, Gombe State, from the 20th to the 24th of January 2025 with the theme: Intersectoral Collaboration in Advancing Child Health and Development. There were three sub-themes: Overcoming the harmful mix of insecurity and poverty on child health, Leveraging technology to promote child health and the Effect of climate change on child health.

This annual event brought together over 370 paediatricians, researchers, healthcare professionals, government officials, local and international health organizations, pharmaceutical industries as well as key players in the health sector from across Nigeria, the West African sub-region as well as other regions of the world.

At the opening ceremony, the President of the Association, Dr. Ekanem Ekure gave her welcome address in which she emphasized that although the Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) 2023/2024 report showed a decline in under-five and infant mortality rates, there was still a rise in newborn mortality rate. She stressed that Nigeria may not achieve the desired Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 target of reducing newborn and under-five mortality by 2030 and appealed to the Federal and State governments to eliminate or reduce hospital costs for under-five children.

Professor Clara Ladi Ejembi delivered an elaborate Dr and Mrs Bolaji Ajenifuja Keynote Address titled: Building Bridges: Harnessing Intersectoral Collaboration for improved Child Health which highlighted how multi-sector collaboration was the cornerstone for addressing the multifaceted societal challenges which cause inequities in child health.

The Special Guest of Honor, the Governor of Gombe State, His Excellency Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, who was ably represented by Dr Manasse Daniel Jatau, the Deputy Governor formally declared the Conference open following opening remarks by Professor Auwal Mohammed Abubakar, the Chairman of the occasion.

There were goodwill messages from several partners and stakeholders including the President of the International Paediatric Association (IPA), Dr Naveen Thacker, who delivered his message virtually.

Other notable attendees were Dr Habu Dahiru, the Commissioner of Health, Gombe State, Prof Mohammed M. Manga, the Provost College of Medical Sciences, Gombe State University and Dr Bukar Yakubu Lakube, the Deputy Chairman Medical Advisory Committee, Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe State.

Stakeholders in attendance included the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMoH&SW), Gombe State Ministry of Health, World Health Organization (WHO), Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Pathfinder International, Global Alliance for Vaccine Initiative (GAVI), Health Sector Reform Coalition (HSRC), Center for Well-being and Integrated Nutrition Solutions (C-WINS), Save the Children International and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Six different hands-on preconference workshops which trained several healthcare workers were held on the 20th and 21st of January, 2025. The workshops were on: Helping Babies Breathe (50 trained), Neonatal resuscitation (26 trained), Respiratory support for Newborns (40 trained), Lactation Management (20 trained), Infectious diseases and control (96 trained), Paediatric Neurologic examination and application in clinical scenarios (50 trained). A workshop was also held by the IPA/PAN Immunization Champions to share their experiences during the advocacy activities carried out on the promotion of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine uptake over the last one year.

During the conference, seventy (70) oral scientific paper presentations, forty-two (42) poster presentations and seven (7) symposia were held. The 2025 Professor Theodore Okeahialam Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics (NJP) Hour Lecture titled: Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics: Retrospection, Introspection and Prospection was delivered by Dr Fidelis Njokanma, a member of the Association and a professor of Neonatology at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

Presentations were also made by pharmaceutical industries on novel medicines, vaccines and medical equipment. Attendees had the chance to connect with other colleagues, share insights, and foster collaborations that will drive future initiatives in child healthcare.

Dr Foluso Ebun Afolabi Lesi, a professor of Paediatrics at the University of Lagos received the highly acclaimed Distinguished Paediatrician award (DPA) of the year 2025 while Dr Josephat Chinawa, a professor of Paediatrics at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu was awarded with the AdeGrange prize for his outstanding research in maternal and child health.

At the conference, PAN made the following observations:

1. Nigeria is off-track in meeting the SDG 3.2 target of reducing newborn and under-five mortality rates by 2030.
2. Childhood cancers remain a major contributor to childhood mortality indices.
3. Global research addressed the needs of children in only 10% of clinical trials, and only 10% of these studies were carried out in Low and Middle Income Countries.
4. Advocacy for children’s right to good health is still low and some resolutions from communities at past conferences were not acted upon by Government and other stakeholders.
5. Childhood immunization uptake in Nigeria is still sub optimal due to procurement challenges, vaccine hesitancy, insecurity and children living in hard to reach areas.
6. Nigeria ranked poorly as 3rd in the World in the Children’s Climate Risk Index. This is evidenced by an increase in the burden and change in pattern of common childhood illnesses.
7. Multidimensional Poverty Indexes in Nigeria are still poor (MPI- 54% UNICEF 2022) with adverse effects on child health.
8. Poverty linked insecurity ravaging the country has caused a significant disruption to the health system, leading to increased vulnerability to diseases and exposure to poor nutrition.
9. The diagnosis and management of neonatal malaria is often challenging due to limited scientific evidence and absence of treatment protocols.
10. Significant barriers still exist in the optimal care of children with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).
11. There is poor incorporation of health technology including Artificial Intelligence (AI) in addressing the health needs of children. Importantly, there are no existing policies in the country which regulate the use of this technology in children.
12. There remains stigma, lack of awareness and insufficient capacity for the diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis especially in the private sector.

Based on the listed observations, PAN therefore:

• Calls on all levels of the Nigerian government especially at the sub-national level to strengthen Primary Health Care and foster health equity.
• Encourages its members to participate actively in high level scientific research.
• Calls on partners to further invest in advocacy for child’s rights.
• Requests for prioritization of child health and well-being in climate policies.

The Paediatric Association of Nigeria extends its heartfelt appreciation to all the speakers, sponsors, and participants for their contributions and dedication to advancing Paediatric healthcare.

Dr Ekanem Ekure – President
Dr Chika Duru – Secretary