The Child Neurology Society of Nigeria (CNSN)
I. INTRODUCTION
The Child Neurology Society of Nigeria (CNSN), an affiliate of the Paediatrics Association of Nigeria (PAN), was established with the following major objectives: To promote the optimization of services for child neurology and developmental medicine in Nigeria, and to facilitate the development and training of professionals in the sub-specialty of child neurology and developmental medicine.
The current officers are: Prof Edwin E. Eseigbe (President), Dr Mkpouto Akpan (Secretary), Dr Murtala Ahmad (Ass. Secretary), Dr Ebele Aronu (Treasurer), Dr Joy Alejo (Financial Secretary), Dr Chima Torty (Auditor), Prof Afolabi Lesi (Director of International Collaboration), Prof IkeOluwa Lagunju (Ex Officio I), Dr Uduak Offiong (Ex Officio II).
II. OUR MAJOR ACTIVITIES IN 2022 INCLUDED:
A. CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND PROFESSIONALS
Organisation of capacity development workshop, ‘Child Development: Developing Capacity for Assessment’, organised on the 20th & 21st of April, 2022. The workshop exposed healthcare providers and practitioners to the application of several neurodevelopmental assessment tools.
B. NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION
The CNSN participated and provided resource persons at the following International Conferences:
1. Nigerian Society of Neurological Sciences’ International Conference 28th to 30thMarch, 2022. Prof Edwin E. Eseigbe spoke on,’ Optimising care for childhood neurological disorders: The role of Primary Health Care’, while Prof MAN Adeboye spoke on, ’Management of childhood neurological disorders: Challenges and prospects in contemporary Nigerian practice ‘.
2. Evidence-Based Strategies to optimize Child growth and Development: Spotlight on Nutrition organised by FrieslandCampina Institute on the 30th of June, 2022. Speakers were Prof IkeOluwa Lagunju and Prof Edwin Eseigbe
3. The CNSN hosted the internationally acclaimed PAN Webinar Clinical and Case Management Series in September 2022. The CNSN guest speaker, the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa spoke on ‘Role of Clinicians (Paediatricians) in the implementation of the Global RoadMap to Defeat Meningitis by 2030’ while Prof Edwin Eseigbe spoke on ‘Management of Childhood Meningitis: Clinical Practice Guidelines’.
C. PROVISION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE
The Society and its members participated in several community-based health promotion activities in child neurology. Notable among these were:
1. Community health promotion on Management of Cerebral Palsy by the Paediatric Neurology Team of the Department of Paediatrics, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile Ife led by Dr O. Oluwatosin Olorunmoteni. Special thanks to the HOD, Prof J.A.O. Okeniyi.
2. Health promotion on Child growth and development among under-fives in Internally Displaced Persons Camp, Abagana, Benue State led by Prof Edwin E. Eseigbe.
D. APPOINTMENTS
1. Prof Gabriel Ofovwe: Chief Examiner, Faculty of Paediatrics, West African College of Physicians
2. Prof R. D. Wammanda, ABUTH, Zaria: Chairman, National Child Health Technical Working Group
3. Prof Angela Frank Briggs: Provost, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State
4. Prof Jane Anyiam, ABUTH, Zaria: Member, National Polio Expert Committee
5. Dr Adenike Jimoh: Elevated to the rank of Reader by Bingham University, Karu, Nigeria
6. Dr Murtala Ahmad: Elevated to the rank of Professor by Usmanu Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Nigeria
7. Dr Ebele Ann Aronu: Elevated to the rank of Professor by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
III. FUTURE PLANS
Strengthen national and international collaborations in child neurology, growth and development; Build capacity and competencies for child neurology care and management at all levels of health care delivery; Improved advocacy for the care and protection of children with neurological disorders.