About Us

HISTORY OF UNAPSA
Edited and compiled
By
Professor Angela A Okolo
University of Benin Teaching Hospital
Department of Child Health
Benin City, Nigeria

UNION OF NATIONAL AFRICAN PAEDIATRIC SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONS (UNAPSA)

INTRODUCTION

UNAPSA, an association of National Paediatric Societies South of the Sahara, was born out of the need to find a common Forum where African Paediatricians could at the continental level find the opportunity for exchange and sharing of experiences and forge lasting friendships.

Along these lines, the idea of forming this association was first muted at a gathering convened by Professor Ishaya Audu the then Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria in 1973; in attendance at that meeting were Professor Bwibo, from Nairobi Kenya, Prof Sanoko from Senegal, Dr TC Okeahialm from Dar es Salaam,Tanzania, an important team of Nigerian Paediatricians notably, Dr Bolaji Ajenifuja, Professor AU Antia, Dr Winifred Kaine, Professor Olikoye Ransome Kuti amongst others; the IPA had always been there with and for UNAPSA so of course Professor Ishan Dogromaci and Professor Nillo Hallman both of the IPA were there too. There was dialogue on the issue for some time but this earlier meeting of 1973 had paved the way as it were for the first meeting that held in Ibadan in 1976. This was followed by the Nairobi meeting in 1979, which was indeed the second meeting of UNAPSA. At the Ibadan meeting a draft Constitution of UNAPSA was circulated and was re-circulated along with the papers and call notice for the Nairobi meeting. An Interim committee to run UNAPSA affaires was also set up at Ibadan.

THE NAIROBI UNAPSA MEETING, 1979

The Nairobi meeting was important because it was there that the earlier appointed Interim Committee was replaced by a formally elected executive committee in 1979. There the first officers were elected and the draft constitution of UNAPSA that had been in circulation was adopted by the member countries of UNAPSA present at that meeting. This meeting was well attended by 39 Pediatricians, 36 of whom were from Sub Saharan African Countries representing; Angola, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Tanzania. The IPA delegation present included the Vice President, Professor N Kabayashi (Japan), Professor T Stapleton (Australia) and the IPA coordinator, Professor Nillo Hallman(Finland).The first elected members of the UNAPSA executive committee were: President, Dr Bolaji Ajenifuja ( Nigeria), Vice President: Professor A Sanokho ( Senegal), Secretary General: Professor Nimroid O Bwibo ( Kenya),Ex Officio Members: Prof Yao Asirifi (Ghana), Prof Marguerite Timite-Konan( Ivory Coast)and Dr DJO Robin Coker ( Sierra Leone). It was also at that meeting that it was resolved to hold biennial congresses of UNAPSA and Ivory Coast was to host the next UNAPSA congress .The President of UNAPSA as per the constitution should represent UNAPSA at the IPA standing committee. This UNAPSA meeting of February 1979 marked the first Regional Paediatric congress.

By 10th April 1979, UNAPSA had applied for the status of affiliate member of IPA, which application got reviewed by the IPA executive committee and subsequently by the IPA standing committee later that year in October of 1979. UNAPSA applied to IPA for representation on the standing committee. As at June 1979, there were only 6 National member Societies.

IPA MEETING IN BARCELONA September 1980

Although there was provision made in the constitution for UNAPSA congresses to hold biennially, the young association struggled to institutionalize her activities and so took the opportunity to meet at the IPA congresses. UNAPSA actively participated at the IPA congress in Barcelona ( 8th -13th September 1980) So it was that 14 National member societies attended and these were Angola, Benin, Cameroun, Ghana, Kenya, Ivory coast, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Sudan.

At this meeting it was disclosed that Ivory coast would not be able to host the second regional congress in 1981 and so the Paediatric Association of Nigeria accepted to host the congress in 1982 and the Theme of that second Regional conference was: “Health care of Children in Africa” It was also observed that the South African Paediatric Association (SAP) may not be representing the entire Nation as required by the Art m3 of the UNAPSA Constitution. Therefore the SG UNAPSA was requested to reply to the SAP to re- apply.

It was reported at that meeting that UNAPSA had been admitted as affiliate member of IPA and Dr Bolaji Ajenifuja, the then President of UNAPSA, was admitted as the representative of UNAPSA on the standing committee of IPA for the period 1980-1983. The executive Director of IPA had appointed as ad personam Africa, Professor Hamza of Tunis for the period 1980 to 1983.

It was resolved that each member society would pay an annual dues of 100 Swiss Francs and societies with more than 10 members should pay 2 swiss Franc per member and these dues should be collected by the SG UNAPSA. Also, it was resolved that since the SG UNAPSA was based in Nairobi a bank account for UNAPSA be opened in that location. The signatories to that account should be the SG Prof Bwibo, the Chairman of the Kenya Paediatric Association and another nominated member of the KPA. The proceedings of the first Regional Paediatric congress of 1979 had been printed and circulated and some of it had been published in the IPA bulletin Vol 3 No. 6 of 1980. It was also noted at this meeting that the office bearers of UNAPSA shall serve for three years and the period of overlap will afford continuity.

The president of the then young association exhibited a lot of dynamism and soon had to represent UNAPSA at several International fora. So in the April of 1981 he presented a paper on the Symposium, “The Child and the City” at the National Institute for Research Advancement in TOKOYO on the Invitation of the IPA Vice President Dr Kobayashi. It was apparently a very successful outing for it made the headlines of the Japanese Media. Shortly after that there was another symposium where the then President was invited to Ankara in January 1982 to speak on “Lactation Failure and Milk Insufficiency” by the executive Director of IPA, Ishan Dogramaci. This was also a successful event.

UNAPSA KADUNA MEETING OF JANUARY 12th to 15th 1982

This meeting held in conjunction with the Paediatric Association of Nigeria Annual conference of Kaduna in January 1982. After the Barcelona meeting intensive preparatory activities for the second regional congress of UNAPSA were undertaken by the executive committee of UNAPSA headed by the UNAPSA president. These included mobilization of the local organizing committee which was headed by the Chairman LOC, Professor Kunle Ijaya of the Ahamadu Bello University Zaria, Sourcing for funds to sponsor delegates and to cover the running costs of the conference and sending out invitations to far and wide participants from all corners of the Region. The Common Wealth Foundation generously made a donation to cover the sponsorship of 7 delegates’. Such delegates included; Dr Mbrundula from Malawi, Dr C. Chintu from Lusaka, Prof N.O. Bwibo from Nairobi, Kenya, Dr A.K. Kissi from Ghana, Dr V.P. Kimati from Tanzania, Dr D.J.O Robin Coker from Serra Leone and 7. Prof Thomas Stapleton ( Australia). Six out of these seven attended the Kaduna UNAPSA congress. Other participants not sponsored by the foundation included Dr W.H Holder from Monrovia and also Dr Rosida Marshal from Monrovia. The IPA, as the good mother to her children did not spare any stone untouched to support the participation of other regional member societies. She also actively supported the participation of more African Paediatricians. It was through this support the IPA coordinator was able to propose and obtained the support for the sponsorship of the IPA- UNAPSA- Finish seminar that was organized in Kaduna and the field trip undertaken to Malumfashi. The IPA support made it possible for such participants that included; Prof Mariam W. Teklasion (Ethiopia), Dr N. W Kinuthia (Kenya), Dr Rhidwan Ahmed Naji (Somalia), Dr Charles Mgone (Tanzania), Dr Christopher Makwabe (Tanzania), Dr James Tumwinie (Uganda), Dr C.M Osborne (Zambia) and Dr R Glyn-Jones (Zimbabwe). Participants from outside the region even attended as they were interested in observing the level of organization and assess the feasibility of getting organized in a similar manner as a regional society in their region. Such was the case of Dr Sondiato from Indonesia. Participants from the Paediatric Association of Nigeria, too numerous to mention were also there.

It can be observed that the 1982 Kaduna UNAPSA Regional Congress was quite an eventful one as it was organized jointly with the Paediatric Association of Nigeria whose then President was Professor Okeahialam. It was at the General Assembly of the UNAPSA member societies that held in Kaduna that the first UNAPSA executive Committee was re-elected for another term with the President and Secretary General as Dr Bolaji Ajenifuja and Secretary General as Prof N.O Bwibo, Vice President remained Prof Sanokoh ( Senegal), other members were Prof Asirifi (Ghana), Prof Marguerite Timite-Konan (ivory Coast), Dr DJO Robin Coker( Serra Leone). Their tenure continued until the Abidjan meeting of 1984. During this intervening period many more countries in the region joined and the fold of the membership increased.

To all intents and purposes, funding had been a major constraining issue from those early days and UNAPSA has depended on the annual subscription of 100$ USD from each of her member societies. According to the constitution operated at the time, the SG was also the custodian of the coffers of UNAPSA that did not seem to have that much funds and the secretariat was mainly run by the SG and the UNAPSA President gave the requisite directives and direction for the organization of the Association.

UNAPSA ABIDJAN 1984

This period marked the beginning of another era of passage for the association. At this meeting, as was the practice The Executive Committee had her regular meeting sessions as well as a pre-congress workshop whose Theme centred around Neonatal Infections. There were such eminent scholars from the region as Dr Nesbiat Tafari of Ethiopia who made presentations on amniotic fluid Infection Syndromes. The conference was so very well attended with participants from all over the region, from central Africa, West and East Africa.

At the General Assembly that held in the Conference HALL of the Great Hotel Ivoire, the new executive committee that comprised as President : Professor Jerome Assi Adou (Cote d’Ivoire), Secretary General Professor Tetanye Ekoe ( Cameroun) as Secretary General, the Vice President: Dr Franck DJabanor. It was at that meeting that Yaoundé was identified as the next host for the REGIONAL Conference two years later but that conference held in 1987

UNAPSA CONGRESS OF YAOUNDE 1987

This ushered in a new Era of executive committee members with their own peculiar dimension of dynamism. These elected officers were President: Dr Frank Djabanor( Ghana), Secretary General: Dr Gabriel Anabwani,(Kenya), Vice President: Pr Mamadu Fall (Senegal); other officers who were ex officio were, Prof Theodore Okeahialam (Nigeria),

UNAPSA REGIONAL CONGRESS OF NAIROBI 1990

The Congress at Yaounde was rapidly and promptly followed by the Regional Congress in Nairobi, March 1990. This meeting was preceeded by a series of preconference activities that included the usual executive committee meetings and the pre-conference Workshop. This Preconference Workshop was on University Linkage to National Capacity Building, centred on Child Life and Development in the African Environment. In the course of the workshop, the key actors on this project organized a field trip to the community of KIBERRA where a collaborative project was on going.

This particular conference was very well attended by member Societies and even individuals from countries where there were relatively few Paediatricians. One such example was the participation of the only African Paediatrician in Namibia at the time, who was involved in Neonatal Care.

At the Regional Paediatric Congress in Nairobi, 1990, the principle was confirmed that the office of President of UNAPSA should alternate between candidates from the Francophone and Anglophone African Countries, and that there should be only one term of office for each President. Continuity and ‘Institutional Memory’ was to be ensured by careful choice of Executive Committee members. There had been an earlier attempt, in 1984 to divide the Paediatric Grouping in Africa into two, a Francophone Group and an Anglophone Group., but this was firmly resisted by the members of UNAPSA. By then we had not established any contact with colleague Paediatricians in Angola, Mozambique or South Africa. Communication was the major challenge at that time, as international telecommunication within Africa had to be routed through the European capitals of former colonial rulers. E-mail was then virtually unknown.

This conference marked the advent of another era that added on its own feathers to the colours of UNAPSA. It was at this meeting that Senegal was selected to host the next Regional Congress of UNAPSA. The newly elected executive committee had as President, Professor Mamadu Fall, a fine Gentleman from Senegal, Secretary General, Professor Angela Okolo (Nigeria), Vice President Professor Tetanye Ekoe ( Cameroun),Ex Officio Members, Professor Julius Meme ( Nairobi, Kenya)and Dr Frank Djabanor (Ghana), the outgoing President of UNAPSA. Dr Frank Djabanor, was also nominated to represent UNAPSA on the Standing Committee of IPA.

From the very beginning after the elections, Prof Mamadu Fall, the newly elected President, convened an executive committee meeting to map out the pattern of activities and the working principles for UNAPSA’s new executive committee. The undertone at this time was to identify how best to consolidate all the efforts of the predecessors through seeking the identity of UNAPSA as a Regional Body with special concern for Child Health in Africa. So it was that several activities in between the UNAPSA congresses were to be mounted to provide the member societies and above all the Executive Committee members the opportunity of meeting at an annual UNAPSA Workshop or symposia instead of waiting for three years to hold their meetings in the course of the Regional Paediatric Congress.

1st UNAPSA ANNUAL WORKSHOP, JOS, NIGERIA, JUNE 1992

The first of UNAPSA annual workshops held in Jos, Nigeria, on the theme, “Breast Feeding and Optimal Infant Feeding practices”. This afforded UNAPSA the opportunity to actively advocate for breastfeeding of infants but, more importantly, to express their reservations about the continuing breast feeding of the infant of the HIV infected mother. UNAPSA advocated for the maintenance of the same stance as was the case of, “No breastfeeding of the infant by the affected mother,” as was the case in Europe and North America. UNAPSA decried the WHO guideline for the feeding of the infant of the HIV infected mother in Africa, where malnutrition was a major problem; and therefore it was to be, “breastfeeding for ALL infants”! The proceedings of this workshop were widely disseminated. Indeed the major sponsor for this workshop was the WHO Regional Office for Africa, stationed in Brazzaville, who paid for all the local hotel arrangements and meals and travel of local participants. The UNICEF Regional Office for West Africa, then in Abidjan, sponsored the participation of the participants from Senegal and Ivory Coast. The local participants at this UNAPSA Annual workshop comprised predominantly the members of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) executive committee, and the local members of PAN around Jos. Members of the JOS University community as well as other key members of the Nigerian National Breastfeeding Working Group (BFHI National Committee) also participated in this Workshop.

After the UNAPSA Workshop in Jos, Nigeria, activities were intensified to prepare for the attendance of the IPA meeting in Rio de Janeiro. The Executive Committee of UNAPSA worked hard to ensure that UNAPSA was recognized and retained as a Regional Grouping within the IPA, on the same footing as UNEPSA, ALAPE and APSSEAR. There was the threat to withdraw the membership of UNAPSA from IPA if she did not pay her annual subscription regularly. By then, there had been a move to establish the International Society of Tropical Paediatrics (ISOTOP) to overshadow and eventually replace UNAPSA. Member socities were sufficiently mobilized and motivated to attend the IPA meeting to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992.

At the IPA Congress in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, UNAPSA held a very brief meeting to acquaint colleagues from member Societies of the updates and coming events of UNAPSA. Above all, colleagues were urged to intensify campaigns for maximum attendance of African Paediatricians at the Regional Congress to be held in Dakar, in 1993. Already at this forum, the executive committee had made available to the participants the first Flyers for the conference announcement for the Dakar Congress. The Theme chosen for the pre-conference Workshop was “Child Labor in Africa” whilst for the main Conference the Theme was “Child Health in a Developing Environment”.

Both the annual Workshop and the UNAPSA forum at the IPA meeting in Rio de Janeiro were utilized to prepare the way for the Regional Congress of UNAPSA to be held in Dakar in December 1993.Intensive preparatory activities for the UNAPSA congress of 1993 was sustained and this required several visits of the SG UNAPSA to Dakar and the IPA coordinator Nillo Hallman was invited to one such meeting to discuss the joint pre-congress workshop of IPA/ UNAPSA. It was at this preparatory meeting that it was agreed that participants to the pre-congress workshop should be drawn from all the member societies of UNAPSA. The modalities for the selection of the member societies to the pre-congress workshop were also determined through the responses to the prepared questionnaire sent out to all member societies.

With the support of IPA, the indefatigable co-coordinator of IPA, Prof Niilo Hallman of Finland, worked tirelessly, hand in hand with the Executive Committee of UNAPSA to mobilize sponsors to bring to Dakar a group of indigenous African Paediatricians that represented the total number of 20 member Societies of UNAPSA, (35 participants) at this defining event. This was a huge success and contributed to sensitisation of the participants on the very important social issue of Child Labor in Africa. This workshop was cosponsored by the ILO/IPA/UNAPSA. Certainly history was being made and UNAPSA‘s identity and image that had been established was consolidated.

UNAPSA CONGRESS, DAKAR, DECEMBER 1993

The DAKAR December 1993 UNAPSA Congress ushered in another Era for UNAPSA because it was at this meeting that a new executive committee of UNAPSA with President as Professor Angela Okolo (Nigeria), Secretary General was Professor Yveline Houenou (Côte d’Ivoire), Vice President was Dr Denis Tindeyebua, Ex Officio members were; Professor Mamadou Fall who had stepped in as UNAPSA representative on the standing committee of IPA and Dr Nike Grange stepped in as ad persona Africa.

This era marked yet another UNAPSA Annual workshop in Abidjan in June 1994. This was the second UNAPSA annual workshop. This next Workshop held in Abidjan in June 1994, was with the immense support of the African Development Bank (ADB), who was then based in Abidjan. This workshop featured the “Traditional care of the New-born in Africa”. The ADB gave UNAPSA the use of their Conference Hall, and offices for Working Group sessions, as well as secretarial support. At the workshop in Abidjan, member Societies of UNAPSA who were present worked very hard at a joint meeting of the exco and the other persons present to constitute a task force that worked hard to identify and lay down certain guidelines for the working of UNAPSA .The need to develop a financial regulation for UNAPSA was identified at this meeting and this was to operate in concert with UNAPSA constitution. The need for a regular consultation forum of UNAPSA group or task force to discuss urgent issues for the progress of UNAPSA was established. UNAPSA enjoyed the immense support from the UNICEF regional office in Abidjan through the support of Dr Gladys Martins. Several brain storming sessions and efforts under the auspices of UNAPSA Task force held with her to establish working guidelines. At the Dakar UNAPSA congress of 1993, South African Pediatric Association (SAPA) had sought membership of UNAPSA, the General Assembly mandated the new President of UNAPSA to visit the SAPA at the cost of the SAPA so as to ascertain whether this association sufficiently covered the interests of the entire Paediatricians in South Africa. Indeed this was a memorable visit because it entailed visits to several canters in South Africa after the SAPA congress. The hospitality of the SAPA was overwhelmingly immense. Not only did the President attend the SAPA congress at Kruger Park, Teaching hospitals were also visited at Johannesburg, Cape Town and Tiger berg. Special teams were available on the ground to receive the president UNAPSA and to discuss modalities for training exchange of Post graduate trainees in Paediatrics in the region. Professor Peter Cooper, Professor Petit Four, Professor Hesseling and Professor Beatty were all extremely supportive during these visits and indeed Professor Beatty and Professor Hesseling were instrumental to the initiation of the first leg of exchanges to be forged through the arrangements under this exchange scheme!

DURING THE YEAR 1995

The year 1995 was spent in preparation for the UNAPSA Congress of Kampala, UGANDA. UNAPSA again was fortunate to participate actively at the IPA meeting in Cairo, Egypt. As was the tradition, UNAPSA held a half afternoon session with her member societies present to discuss the preparations for KAMPALA. It was during this period that UNAPSA was also represented at the standing committee of the IPA by the then President of UNAPSA Professor Angela Okolo and had as ad Persona Africa, Professor Mohamadou Fall (Senegal)

The SG UNAPSA and the President UNAPSA paid two preparatory visits to UGANDA and held work Sessions with the local organizers of the UNAPSA congress. On one such visit, it was the Annual General meeting of the Uganda Paediatric Association where Professor David Morley was honoured by the UPA and both the President UNAPSA and the SG UNAPSA were there in attendance and the President UNAPSA was given the opportunity to work with the organisers and address the UPA congress forum.

The UNAPSA Congress of December 1996 as was the tradition, the president UNAPSA presented the results of the survey of the activities of the Member National Societies. The end of this meeting in Uganda ushered in the new executive committee with Professor Yveline Houenou (Cote d’Ivoire) as President, Dr Ben Baffo Bonnie(Ghana) as Secretary General, UNAPSA, Professor James Tumwinie ( Uganda)as Vice President, Professor Angela Okolo ( Nigeria)remained as IPP on the executive committee of UNAPSA. A UNAPSA constitutional amendment that was proposed was upheld and adopted. The UNAPSA Constitution which both the constitutional amendment and the financial regulation of UNAPSA were adopted. Benin won the bidding for the hosting of the next congress to be held in Cotonou.

During this era, consultative meetings of the task force of UNAPSA held in Abidjan and Accra to consolidate ideas and new agendas for UNAPSA functionality. The concept of UNASA seeking admission on observer status to the OAU was born; the OAU agreed to sponsor the few editions of the African Child Health journal, a journal of UNAPSA with the support of Dr Koki Ndombo of Cameroun who got the OAU eventually to Sponsor the journal African Child Health.

The ERA 1997- 1999

The New Executive

Still in the bid to maintain the identity of UNAPSA worked tirelessly with the support and advise from seniors like Dr Gladys Martin of the Regional office of UNICEF then in Abidjan. With her support and ideas, a task force that regrouped the past Presidents of UNAPSA was set up and met regularly either in ABIDJAN or in Accra to discuss and plan activities for UNAPSA.

In 1998, August, UNAPSA once more attended the IPA congress at Amsterdam and there was a considerable number of African Paediatricians because of the special support of the congress Professor David Hall, the IPA Chair for the organization of that IPA congress of Amsterdam. As was the usual practice, UNAPSA held a half day meeting to assess the state of preparedness of the Paediatric Association of Benin for the Cotonou meeting. The preparatory efforts were quite at an advanced state and the EXCO promised further support to the local organizers to be provided through visits for joint preparatory work sessions. It was at the Amsterdam meeting that Professor Yveline Houenou the then President of UNAPSA took over the representation of UNAPSA at the IPA. At this meeting of the IPA in Amsterdam, the then candidate seeking election to the IPA presidency, Professor Jane Schaller, was given the opportunity to address the National delegates of UNAPSA and solicit for their votes. Delegates requested some form of commitment to the cause of African Paediatricians and indeed she pledged several things and commitment to promote and facilitate communication among the African Paediatric societies. This, Dr Jane Schaller, did very well at the appointed time when she won the IPA election and also after she became the Executive director of the IPA. The then President of IPA lived up to her promise to support communication among African Paediatricians. Dr Jane Schaller won the election as President of the IPA in Amsterdam.

Efforts and endeavours were put in to prepare the UNAPSA Congress of Cotonou. The Paediatric Association of Benin quickly mounted a Local Organising Committee (LOC) that received a lot of support from the SENIORS like Professor Dan Vincent. The secretary of this organizing committee Dr Cherif Rahimy energetically prepared this congress that held in December, 1999. This preparation necessitated the frequent visits of the President UNAPSA, Professor Yveline Houenou and Professor Angela Okolo to provide the needed guidance to the LOC of this congress.

THE CONGRESS DECEMBER 1999 AT THE COTONOU CONVENTION CENTRE

This event was preceded by activities; such as the pre- congress workshops in collaboration with the IPA theme: Malaria The newly elected executive committee comprised of President Dr James Tumwinie, Secretary General, Cheriff RAHIMY, Vice President, Dr Jo Mbuthia; Ex Officio members included , Dr Yveline Houenou, who was the Immediate past President, Dr Angela Okolo and Dr Ange- Mongory of Cameroon Cameroun) Nairobi Kenya won the bidding to host the next Paediatric congress.

In 2001, UNAPSA Actively participated at the congress of the IPA in Beijing, China. It was at this meeting that the new President of UNAPSA, Dr James Tumwinie, took over the representation of UNAPSA at the IPA standing committee. And there was a new Ad persona Africa in the person of Dr M.C Rahimy

February 2002 CHILD WATCH AFRICA WAS BORN:

In this era, The IPA supported through Professor Jane Schaller the move for the promotion and support of the African Paediatricians, “Child WATCH AFRICA” was launched in Nairobi in the bid to support child life and child health in Africa CHILD WATCH simply means working together for Child Health in Africa. The IPA in collaboration with the World Bank, UNAPSA and the Kenya Paediatric Association in 2002 supported the Conduct of a workshop to mobilize the African Paediatricians to participate actively in their national issues so as to bring issues of child health to the fore front. This meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya. A memorable presentation at this entitled “Who is Missing at the TABLE” remains vivid in my mind. This was made by a Paediatrician from the World Bank who came to that meeting.

DECEMBER 2002 UNAPSA CONGRESS, ADDIS ABBA, ETHIOPIA

Significant UNAPSA/ IPA Pre-congress activities held. Two workshops held in tandem on complex humanitarian emergencies followed by the workshop on Tuberculosis. The remarkable ADDIS UNAPSA tuberculosis diagnostic Criteria backed up by the ADDIS Declaration on TB.

Officers of the Association: At this meeting, Dr Cheriff Rahimy was elected President and Dr Joe Mbuthia was Secretary General, Dr Ama Mekhasa and Dr Angela Okolo Ex Officio. A proposed constitutional amendment was adopted. By this new dispensation, the Institutional memory of the Association was to be consolidated by the position of an Executive Director who would outlive the tenure of the constantly changing President, and Secretary. The new constitution allowed for the post of an honorary Treasurer.

DECEMBER 2005, IN COTONOU, THE UNAPSA CONGRESS HELD

Cote d’Ivoire won the bid to host the next UNAPSA CONGRESS IN December 2005. However Cote d’Ivoire could not host because of the difficulties being experienced at the time by that country. Another country Benin Republic offered to co-host with Cote D’Ivoire. So in December 2005, in Cotonou , the UNAPSA CONGRESS held. A New executive that comprised: Prof Peter Cooper( SA) as President, Vice President Prof Francois Tall (Burkina Faso), Prof Ye Diarra Treasurer ( Burkina Faso) and Professor Angela Okolo( Nigeria), Executive Director of UNAPSA. Dr Cherrif Rahimy, the outgoing President of UNAPSA was to represent UNAPSA on the standing committee, however given that he was already there as Ad persona Africa, he requested the new President of UNAPSA, Peter cooper to take up this place. South Africa won the bid to host the next UNAPSA Congress in Johannesburg in 2008.

2005 - 2008 ERA

In 2007, National delegates of UNAPSA attended the meeting in Athens. The tradition was broken this time as members of UNAPSA could not meet to review the preparations for the Johannesburg UNAPSA CONGRESS HOSTING.

In July 2008 The Johannesburg UNAPSA Congress held. A new executive committee was put in place, this comprised President Prof Francois Tall ( Burkina Faso), Vice President, Professor Paul Koki Ndombo (Cameroun),Prof Ye Diarra Treasurer ( Burkina Faso) and Professor Angela Okolo( Nigeria), Executive Director of UNAPSA.

The Era of Professor Francois Tall has yet added another feather to UNAPSA as this has taken UNAPSA to be known even in the remote community of Bossoumnoré, which is 12km from the capital of Burkina Faso Ouagadougou and is located in the province of Ouahigouya, within the territory of the Primary health Care Unit of Namsiguia. Dr Francois Tall has deemed it necessary for UNAPSA to join forces with the WAHO in the attempt to contribute to maternal and Neonatal mortality reduction efforts through the support of the community health workers for provision of Home based care.

2011 CONGRESS

Burkina Faso held the next meeting of UNAPSA in 2011 and handed over to Professor Paul Koki Ndombo (Cameroun). Dr Doroty Esangbedo (Nigeria) was the president elect. He worked with his treasurer and Prof Angela Okolo as the Executive Director for three years

2014-2018 ERA (14th President of UNAPSA)

UNAPSA held the 2014 UNAPSA annual meeting at Yaoundé in Cameroun. Professor Paul Koki Ndombo (Cameroun), officially handed over to Dr Doroty Esangbedo in November, 2014. Professor Madeleine Amorissani Folquet (Cote D’Ivoire) was unanimously elected as President elect and Professor Angela Okolo continued as the (Nigeria) Executive Director. The President chose Dr Babaniyi Iretiola as her treasurer.

The following objectives were set by this new executive:

• Examine the structure of the association, and request amendment to the constitution if necessary.
• Produce a 5-year strategic plan to cover our tenure and extend two years further for continuity and progressive development.
• Stimulate collaboration between member countries by encouraging workshops and seminars.
• Encourage more visibility for UNAPSA in the international arena by encouraging a more robust participation in the IPA.
• Revive the African Child Health Journal.
• Host a successful conference.

Some of the achievements of Dr Doroty Esangbedo were:

• Registrations of UNAPSA at CAC of Nigeria, to enable council members to obtain sponsorship for programs or open a bank account anywhere in the world. Registration number is RC 105004.
• She attended IPA Conference in Vancouver in 2016 along with her Executive Director, Prof Angela Okolo, the Immediate UNAPSA Past President (Cameroon) and representatives from Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Africa. Over 50 Nigerians attended the conferences, and many made presentations on Ebola virus disease. The Executive Director, Professor Angela Okolo, also had a poster presentation.
• She became an automatic member of IPA Standing Committee in 2016 at the Vancouver meeting.
• She was nominated without her request and unanimously elected into the 5-member Executive Committee of the IPA.
• During her tenure, she was seconded to represent IPA on the Gavi Civil Societies Organisation Constituency Steering Committee. On arrival in Geneva for the meeting, she was elected as the Vice Chairman of the committee. After one year, she automatically became the Chairman to coordinate the immunization agenda of over 4000 CSOs across the globe.
• She was again unanimously elected to represent the voice of CSOs on WHO Strategic Advisory Group on immunization Experts meetings for 2 years.
• She ensured that UNAPSA was represented by requesting Dr. Kakpossi Adelou to represent her at the Regional Immunisation Technical Advisory Group meeting (RITAG) in 2016. He sent a very comprehensive report to the UNAPSA secretariat.
• She also represented UNAPSA at the Regional Paediatric meeting in Dakar Senegal, along with Dr. Adelou by UNICEF invitation. Dr. Christine Muriel of Gabon was also there representing francophone paediatricians.
• She created the UNAPSA website during her tenure.

2018-2021 (15th President of UNAPSA)

UNAPSA congress was held January 2018 alongside with Paediatric Association of Nigerian conference. At the end of the conference, Dr Doroty Esanghedo handed over to the UNAPSA president elect, Professor Madeleine Amorrissani Folquet, from Cote D’Jvoire. Dr Kiablua Kapinga Julitte from Botswana was unanimously elected as the next president elect.

Dr Bridget Okoeguale who was privilege to have been trained as a Paediatric resident doctor in Dakar and Senegal was bilingual. She unanimously elected as the Executive Director.

The era of Professor Folquet was seriously affected by COVID -19 pandemic. Most activity within UNAPSA that was planned could not hold. Participation with IPA was mainly virtual meetings

The achievements during this era were as follows:

• For ease of communication among members, a WhatsApp group was set up for general council members, Executive members of UNAPSA, and Representatives of Executives of the Countries.
• A workshop on the African Regional Learning Collaborative network meeting on immunization organized by the American Paediatric Association was organized during Dr. Esangbedo's tenure but implemented after handing over.
• After this workshop, we had a series of virtual monthly meetings through Skype to follow up on our implementation strategies. Different countries were asked to give an update and plan on their immunization activities.
• We also had an overview of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on immunization in some African countries and their plan of action to control the situation.
• Professor Folquet and Professor Usmane Ndiaye (Senegal) represented UNAPSA on IPA standing committee.
• The review of the 2005 draft Constitution was done within six months. An eight-member committee chaired by Dr. John Appiah was set up.
• We are also collaborating with The President, International Society of Social Paediatrics (ISSOP) Prof. Jeffery Goldhagen and the African Regional Coordinator for ISSOP, Dr. Rosie Kyeremateng on having a workshop on Social/Community Paediatrics. The aim is to encourage African Paediatricians to specialize in this area.
• UNAPSA participated in monthly meetings organized by ISSOP.
• We are also planning with ISSOP on how to help African countries come up with strategies to take care of disabled children.
• The 16th UNAPSA congress was held at Yamousoukro, Cote D’Ivoire, with poor attendance by the Anglophone countries due to COVID-19. Dr. Kiablua Kapinga Julitte, who was to take over, died of a protracted ailment. She pleaded before her death to permit Botswana to hold the post. Dr. Joel Dipesalema was unanimously elected to take her position to honor her request. Dr. Ali Soumalia Abdoul Aziz (Niger) was also unanimously elected as president-elect. The mantle of leadership was handed over to Dr. Joel Dipesalema by Professor Madeleine Amorrisani Folquet. Dr. Alemayehu Mekonnen Gezmu was chosen by Dr. Joel Dipesalama as the treasurer. Dr. Bridget Okoeguale (Nigeria) continued as the Executive Director.

2021-2024 Era

The new president held a virtual meeting. He introduced himself to few members who attended the zoom meeting and stated his aims and objectives for UNAPSA.

Achievements so far:

• Dr. Dipesalama continued the African Regional Learning Collaborative network meeting on immunization organized by the American Paediatric Association.
• He became a member of IPA standing committee.
• The new draft UNAPSA constitution was adopted during his tenure.
• In collaboration with IPA and the Rwanda Paediatrics Association, a workshop on Zero-dose children was organized for UNAPSA council members in February 2023. Twelve of them from different countries made presentations.
• The president leveraged the 2023 IPA Congress to organize UNAPSA one-on-one meetings with about 22 council members representing their countries. Detailed discussions on how to collaborate and move UNAPSA forward were discussed. Members were encouraged to pay their annual dues.
• The Libyan Paediatric Association was formally adopted as a new member of UNAPSA.
• Plans are underway to host the 2024 UNAPSA Congress in Botswana. This was formally announced to all members, and they were encouraged to attend.
• The website for UNAPSA is in the process of being created again with the assistance of IPA.
• Professor Ousmane Ndiaye, who was a member of the IPA Standing Committee, stepped down. Dr. John Appiah (Ghana), whom he contested with, was asked to replace him.
• We look forward to the next UNAPSA congress in Botswana in 2024, where new executives will be elected to continue with the mantle of leadership.