Association of Paediatric Surgeons of Nigeria
In the
1980’s professor M.A. Bankole proposed and initiated the
formation of the “Association of Pediatric Surgeons of Black
Africa”. Apart from holding an inaugural meeting in: Ibadan
during the conference of West African College of surgeons, the
association did not take off. In the 1990’s, another proposal
was made by Prof. Hamdy to form the “Pan African Association of
Paediatric Surgeons”. This idea was initiated by a letter
written to him by a group of Paediatric Surgeons in South
Africa. A group of Ghanaian Paediatric Surgeons disagreed with
the idea and so it was not sustained.
In 1991, a decision was
taken to form the “Association of Paediatric Surgeons of Nigeria
(APSON)”. The inaugural meeting of APSON was held on the 31st
January 1992 in the Department of Surgery of Lagos University
Teaching Hospital (LUTH). Prof. S.D. Adeyemi convened the
meeting. Thereafter, the association met a few times usually
during meetings of West African College of Surgeons or National
Postgraduate Medical College. It attempted to compilea list of
Paediatric Surgeons in Nigeria and to draw up a constitution.
However, efforts were not sustained and the association became
dormant. In September, 2001, the first Scientific meeting of
APSON was held in LUTH. It was an international update program
initiated by Dr. (Mrs.) M.A. Odelola in collaboration with Staff
Practitioner from Children’s Hospital Oakland, California. The
American team failed to attend due t the ‘tragedies of September
11, 2001’. However the Scientific program went on and brought
together about 20 paediatrc surgeons from all over Nigeria. A
general meeting was held and the first APSON officers were
elected.
The American team from Oakland attended the 2nd
annual conference of APSON held in LUTH in March 2002.
The 5th
annual conference was held in Zaria in November, 2006.
In
April 2002 at a conference in Egypt, APSON was registered with
PAPSA (Pan African Paediatric Surgeons) and in June 2002 at BAPS
conference in Cambridge England, APSON was registered with
WOFAPS (World federation of Association of Paediatric Surgeons).
APSON is in collaboration with British Association of Paediatric
Surgeons (BAPS) and European Paediatric Surgeons Association (EUPSA).
The objectives of APSON are:
- To promote the training of more Paediatric Surgeons in
Nigeria.
- To foster unity and promote friendship among Paediatrc
Surgeons in the country.
- To hold regular scientific meetings to promote continued
medical education for the improvement of baby management.
- To promote the quality of teaching and research in
Paediatric Surgery and maintain affiliations with allied
professional Associations within and outside Nigeria.
- To monitor and influence legislations affecting child
health.
- To establish and maintain a Scientific Journal of
Paediatric Surgery.
APSON EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
PRESIDENT Prof O Adejuyigbe, Ile Ife
VICE PRESIDENT Prof I Evbuomwan, Benin City
SECRETARY GENERAL Dr A. M Abubakar, Maiduguri
FINANCIAL SECRETARY Dr A. M Mohamad, Kano
TREASURER Dr J. O Adeniran, Ilorin
PAST PRESIDENT Prof N.E.N Obianyo, Enugu
ZONAL CORDINATORS
NORTH EAST NIGERIA Dr A. M Abubakar
NORTH WEST NIGERIA Dr P. M Mshelbwala
NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA Dr A. F Uba
SOUTH WEST NIGERIA Dr O. Ogundoyin
SOUTH EAST NIGERIA Dr P. Okoro
SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA Dr O. D Osifo
PATRONS
Professor M. A Bankole
Professor F. A. Nwako
Professor S. D. Adeyemi
Professor J.T. Momoh