Bauchi State governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, has highlighted the vulnerability of children and the need for quality paediatric healthcare to safeguard their health, development, and future opportunities. He made these remarks at the 25th Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association of Paediatric Surgeons of Nigeria (APSON), held at the Ahmadu Bello International Conference Centre (ICC), Bauchi. The governor emphasized the importance of paediatric surgery in protecting children and preserving human potential.
Governor Mohammed, represented by the commissioner for Health, Dr Sani Muhammad Dambam, noted that paediatric surgery goes beyond treating specific medical conditions. It is fundamentally about protecting children, preserving human potential, and giving them the opportunity to live healthy and productive lives. He stressed that paediatric surgeons play a critical role in the broader development of human capital, particularly through early intervention and access to specialised surgical care.
The governor commended the APSON gathering, describing it as an important platform for medical professionals to exchange knowledge, review emerging evidence, examine new technologies, strengthen professional competencies, and develop solutions to challenges confronting paediatric surgical care in Nigeria. He encouraged participants to view the scientific sessions, research presentations, and professional engagements as important contributions towards strengthening the country’s healthcare system.
Governor Mohammed emphasized the need for strong collaboration among government institutions, professional associations, teaching hospitals, universities, development partners, and the private sector to improve specialised healthcare. He expressed the state’s readiness to support partnerships aimed at strengthening paediatric surgical services, improving supply systems, supporting specialist training, promoting research, and expanding access to quality healthcare for children, particularly those in underserved rural communities.
The governor urged participants to focus on strengthening health systems and primary healthcare mechanisms while expanding access to specialised paediatric surgical services across underserved communities. He also called for sustainable models of specialist training, mentorship, and professional development, as well as policies capable of addressing emerging challenges in paediatric healthcare.
Governor Mohammed advocated for improved access to affordable and cost-effective surgical interventions and stronger collaboration between tertiary institutions and lower levels of healthcare. He further urged participants to explore appropriate technologies capable of improving surgical outcomes and reducing complications. The governor encouraged participants to consider how the knowledge generated at the conference could reach children living far from major urban centres.
The governor concluded by emphasizing that the true measure of scientific advancement is not only what is discovered but how effectively those discoveries improve the lives of ordinary people. The president of APSON, Prof. Roland Osuoji, also spoke at the event. Governor Mohammed’s administration is committed to supporting initiatives that improve the healthcare system, particularly for vulnerable populations like children.
Key points
- The Bauchi State governor emphasized the importance of paediatric surgery in protecting children and preserving human potential.
- The governor urged participants to focus on strengthening health systems and primary healthcare mechanisms.
- The governor advocated for improved access to affordable and cost-effective surgical interventions.
