By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud has disclosed the FCT Administration’s increased commitment to advance pediatric surgical care in the territory.
Mahmoud stated this at the official opening of the 24th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Paediatric Surgeons of Nigeria (Abuja Chapter), which held in Abuja.
She highlighted the critical role of paediatric surgeons in safeguarding children’s health, including the specialty’s compassion, precision, and resilience in contributing to national well-being.
Mahmoud acknowledged the critical challenges facing the healthcare system, which include limited infrastructure and skilled manpower shortages.
She further , as well as opportunities through technological innovation, improved training, and government reforms.
Furrhermore, the minister reinstated the Administration’s collaboration with professional bodies to expand access to quality healthcare and improve referral systems, ensuring timely surgical interventions for children across urban and rural areas.
She, however, commended the association’s dedication to training, research, and mentorship and stressed the importance of preventive care through stronger linkages among healthcare professionals to reduce late presentation of conditions.
She urged participants to focus more on practical solutions and actionable recommendations to enhance policy and clinical practice, as she affirmed her openness to ongoing dialogue to improve child health services in the FCT and beyond.
Earlier, chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Prof. Philip Mshelbwala noted that Nigeria faces a critical shortage of paediatric surgeons, with an alarming ratio of specialists to patients that demands urgent attention.
He said, “As a case in point, the FCT and Nasarawa State have 15 paediatric surgeons for a combined population of approximately 4.3 million, with half being children.”
“This falls well below World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.”
Mshelbwala, assured of the unwavering commitment of the Association of Paediatric Surgeons of Nigeria to bridge this gap through knowledge sharing, mentorship, and collaborative problem-solving.
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