LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT’S OFFICE
Dr Pteronia Tabansi
PAN President
Esteemed PAN elders and members,
I bring salutations from the office of the PAN President.
Indeed, it’s been an exciting and somewhat thrilling journey so far, steering the affairs of our great Association since the inauguration of the new Executive Council on that awesome day of 23rd January, 2026.
We have hit the ground running on deliverables as promised. Most important of which is being at decision making tables!! Several high-level stakeholders’ meetings and engagement were attended with the PAN President and members of the Executive Council where we were very vocal with important contributions to the discourse in line with PAN’s mission of influencing policies that affect child health. To this end, the following meetings were attended:
- National Child Health Technical Working Group (NCHTWG) – It is crucial for PAN to be at the table of this meeting hosted by the FMoHSW because this is the apex meeting where important child health issues including child survival, neonatal health, children with congenital abnormalities and Research among others are intensely discussed and debated, and are most likely to translate to national policies. Of note is that the Chairman, Subcommittee chairs and many members are of PAN extraction. All are poised to advocate and uphold the rights of Nigerian children to good health and development.
- Strengthening Access to Reproductive & Adolescent Health (SARAH Project) – this is a UNICEF Funded initiative aimed at optimizing health systems operations in order to improve access by adolescents and other patients. The project is being implemented by United Nations Population Fund -UNPF and DOM HOUG, in Adamawa, Kwara and Sokoto states. In these same States, PAN, on the request of UNICEF nominated members in the locales to mentor and supervise Primary Health Care Centers participating in the Safer Birth Bundle of Care (SBBC) project, for sustainability and retention of skill of trained healthcare workers.
- National Council on Nutrition (NCN) meeting – Chaired by the Vice President of Nigeria – His Excellency Sen. Kashim Shettima, this collective seeks to improve the nutrition of all Nigerians especially vulnerable groups like children. One of the proposed ways is to re-activate nutritious school meals by sourcing sustainable funding through federal and state governments and international partners. Very big leagues are in this council including the Federal Ministers of Budget and Strategic Planning, Health and Social Welfare, Agriculture and Chairman of the Governors Forum, World Food Bank, relevant professional association foremost of which is PAN contributing its professional expertise to this important gathering, outcome of which will translate to policies that will positively impact the nutrition of Nigerian children.
Other meetings attended include
- Validation of the National reproductive health Policy (Kano),
- NAFDAC update on Code of Marketing of breast milk substitutes – very important to revive the mantra of exclusive breast feeding for first six months of life which has somehow declined in intensity in recent times! Paediatricians need to take charge!
Extra-Ordinary General Meeting (EGM): Due to conflict in schedule of INEC’s new revised time table for National and State elections which was moved from 20th February, 2027, to the new dates of 16th January 2027 and 6th February respectively, the
dates for PANConf Abia 2027 needs to be re-scheduled to after the elections. In accordance with the PAN Constitution, an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting (EGM) of PAN ordinary members have scheduled for the 15th of April for this purpose so as to safeguard members from travels during the election period.
PAN projects/grants: The IPA/PAN immunization Champions Continuous Engagement Project is on-going and running smoothly. PAN is now mentoring other paediatric societies in Ghana and Liberia on innovative immunisation advocacy methods. Key immunization messages and contents for social media campaign have been produce and disseminated at various social media platforms including our WhatsApp platform. Kindly like and follow please. PAN appreciates our content creators including the Noisy Naija Paediatrician, Apkroko Doctor, PAN Publicity & Public Health Education Committees Chairs & members to mention a few; and all our immunization champions especially the Lead – Dr. Ayebo Sadoh for their commitment and passion in sustaining the laudable work on immunization advocacy which is a key PAN mission! PAN remain grateful to the IPA and Gates Foundation for their continuous support.
ACS/IPA/PAN project on HPV VAC – this is a new project funded by the American cancer Society (ACS) in collaboration with IPA that seek to empower member societies of the IPA with advocacy skills to prevent HPV related cancers through HPV vaccination of adolescents. An easy access free and certified online course developed by the IPA has been disseminated to PAN members to participate. We thank and appreciate members who have completed the course and encourage all member to do same as this is a PAN project and mandate. The IPP Dr. Ekanem Ekure participated in Module 6 of the course. Find out what she said by clicking/copying this link to register: https://ipa-world.org/ipalmsv2/registration.php.
Other activities of the Association including webinars, committee activities and members welfare are running as usual. On a sad note, PAN lost some members noteworthy of which is that of beloved Dr. Angela Anene Okolo, Dr. Suleiman and most recently Dr. Nwadiuto Akani. May their souls rest in peace and God comfort their families and PAN – Amen.
Esteemed elders and members, PAN is working! And the President is at your service always. Thank you for your constant support, advice and encouragement. I appreciate them so please keep it coming.
Dr. Petronila N. Tabansi,
President, PAN
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