The Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) is a non-governmental, non-profit making professional organization, conceived at UCH Ibadan in February 1966 and delivered at LUTH, Lagos in March 1968.
Since its founding, PAN has remained the cornerstone of paediatric practice in Nigeria, leading in training, examination, and the production of world-class paediatricians who continue to elevate child healthcare standards across the nation and beyond.
As recounted by Prof. R.G. Hendrickse in his address titled "The Paediatric Association of Nigeria: Genesis, Present Dilemmas and Future Challenges" delivered at the 21st Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference.
The affairs of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria are directed by an elected Executive Council. The Council has a 3-year life, followed by elections conducted during the annual general meeting. The first elected officers of the Association (1968) were:
PAN drives child health advancement through advocacy, capacity development, research, and collaboration with governments and international agencies.
PAN advocates for improved child health policies, reviews national laws as they affect children, and raises awareness on critical child health issues including childhood malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and areas of need in childhood immunization in Nigeria.
PAN is involved in capacity development of students and institutions for child health in Nigeria, collaborating with national paediatric associations and medical institutions in the evaluation and review of curriculum for undergraduate and postgraduate training in paediatrics and allied professions.
The association serves as technical consultants for the formulation, execution, monitoring and evaluation of interventions for improving child health, sharing technical information with governments, international agencies and other stakeholders.
The annual conference of paediatricians and stakeholders in child health rotates across the country. It provides opportunity to highlight child health issues, exchange and update information through research presentations, discuss policies affecting children, and network between Nigerian paediatricians, policymakers, international agencies and other stakeholders.
A peer-reviewed publication of research materials and reviews on child health. It generates collated data that should dictate policies and programmes to positively impact on child mortality.
PAN is a member of various technical working groups on child health matters in Nigeria. In this capacity, the association shares technical information with governments, international agencies and other stakeholders to address child health issues.
PAN facilitates CME throughout the year for doctors and nurses in specific areas of concern in child health in the community being served. This encourages networking among those that care for children, positively impacting referral networks and health care delivery.
Part of the PAN project "Scale up of Capacity for Neonatal Care in Nigeria," this programme focuses on capacity building of doctors and nurses involved in childbirth as an intervention to address the high neonatal mortality rate in the country.
PAN is a major resource for child health issues through its monthly webinar series, which:
Help Desk
