Department of Paediatrics

The department has a research Laboratory and library both situated in the departmental office block at Ituku-Ozalla. These two facilities require more materials in order to increase their scope and to function more. The Library is situated in ward 6A and a reference Library is in the departmental office block.

The department, however, has continued to maintain the excellence for which it is known despite the odds, and this is attested to by the awards/commendations received by the department as many of her products have made waves worldwide as academics, administrators, etc.

Vision

To be one of the best centres for post-graduate (Residency) training in Paediatrics in Nigeria and beyond.

Mission

• To train specialists in paediatrics and child health who will be comparable to their peers in any part of the world.
• To render quality and satisfactory clinical service
• To attract and retain competent and erudite academic/consultant staff
• To promote/encourage a conducive environment for teaching and training

It is expected that on completion of the Residency training, the graduates;

• Will be experts in child health/Paediatrics
• Will possess leadership and managerial skills to officially lead the healthcare team and be an expert
• Can effectively teach upcoming Resident doctors, house-officers, medical students, nurses and other practitioners involved in child health /Paediatrics

Can competently identify research needs, initiate, conduct and write report(s) clearly. Also, that he/she can read reports/publications of others and evaluate their relevance to patient needs. Thus he/she can make valid judgments as to which ones can be safely and effectively applied in the care of his/her patients.

RESIDENCY PROGRAMME

The Nigeria Medical Council approved the department for the residency training program in December 1976. The program is run by the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital with academic staff of the college of Medicine as resource persons.

It has successfully guided Residents through the Part I and Part II Examinations of both the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the West African Postgraduate Medical College. At present there are 40 Residents (Senior and Junior Residents). Some of her products in the Residency training programme have attained the post of Professors in the      department of paediatrics and similar departments in other teaching hospitals:

Our facilities are also used for training in paediatrics by sister Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centers which have partial accreditation.           .

The department also prepares undergraduate students for the 3^rd professional examination (formerly 4^th MBBS) examination in Paediatrics. Teaching of students comprises of clinical bedside and classroom teaching as well as tutorials.

The department also has side laboratories, CHER, Ward 6, and the Neonatal Unit.

Admission requirements

Candidates for admission into Residency programme in Paediatrics are expected to:

• possess basic medical qualification registrable with MDCN.
• be fully registered with MDCN.
• have obtained the primary Fellowship certificate of either the National PG Medical College or the West African College of Physicians.

Structure of Training

The duration of the training in the hospital is six years, comprising of Junior residency training and Senior residency training each of which will last for a maximum duration of three years. Candidates will qualify to apply for examinations after undergoing training for a minimum period of 24 months at each stage of training (i.e. junior and senior residency training). It is also expected that during this period, the candidate must have completed the required rotations for the appropriate colleges before applying for the examination. In addition candidates should have some certification in Basic Life support.

Candidates are advised to liaise with the respective postgraduate medical colleges and the office of the Director of Postgraduate Studies of the hospital and familiarize themselves with the requirements of the colleges and other details as contained in their curricula. It is important to note that one of the two Colleges, the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria has just celebrated her fifty years of postgraduate medical training in Nigeria (1969 – 2019).

Course Content

As stipulated by both colleges.

Departmental Firms/Sub-specialties

The following firms /sub-specialties are available in the department and residents are required to rotate through these firms satisfactorily as stipulated by the respective postgraduate colleges. The firms are as follows:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Emergency Paediatrics
• Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders
• Cardiology
• Adolescent Health
• Nephrology
• Neurology
• Haematology/Oncology
• Infectious diseases
• Gastroenterology
• Respirology
• General Paediatrics
• Community Paediatrics

Details of the requirements and expectations during these postings are contained in subsequent sections and also in the Handbooks from the different colleges.

Residents’ performances during training are documented in a logbook of attendance and performance designed the Postgraduate Medical Colleges. Residents undergo periodic formative assessments during their postings.

At the Teaching Hospital section (Ituku-Ozalla) the Department has the following facilities:

• Children Emergency Room situated beside the main casualty.
• Diarrhea treatment Unit and in CHER.
• Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (which is about completion)
• Consulting Clinics
• Children’s Out Patient Clinic
• Neonatal Clinic
• New Born Special Care Unit
• Wards 6A and 6B.

Specialty Clinics run by the department, in addition to the General consultant clinic, include:

• Cardiac Clinic
• Haematology /Oncology Clinic
• Adolescent Clinic
• Neurology Clinic
• Nephrology Clinic
• HIV/ARV Clinic/ Infectious Disease
• Neonatology Clinic
• Pulmonology Clinic
• Endocrinology Clinic
• Gastroenterology Clinic
• Community Paediatrics

DEPARTMENTAL CLINIC DAYS

• Hematology/Oncology and (ARV)/Infectious Disease clinic – Mondays
• Adolescent Clinic – Mondays
• Nephrology Clinic – Tuesdays
• Pulmonology Clinic – Tuesdays
• Endocrinology/Neonatology – Wednesday
• PMTCT/Gastroenterology – Thursdays
• Neurology Clinic – Fridays

DEPARTMENTAL RESIDENCY ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES

In this department, there are various academic activities aimed at promoting , sustaining and enriching the knowledge of her academic staff including those in residency training.

These activity days of the week are:

MONDAYS – 9:00am -10.00am

• Monthly Journal review meetings – Residents present topics and articles in Paediatrics that may of national or international interest from both local and international journals. This is done under the tutelage of a supervising consultant.

TUESDAYS – 2:00pm – 3:00pm

• Residency seminars which involve discussion on scheduled topics, diseases conditions etc.

WEDNESDAYS – 8am – 9am

• Weekly Departmental Clinical Conferences – During this period, each of the units is invited to present any topic of interest with detailed discussions as well as a literature search on them. Contributions are made by participants, members of the teaching staff, residents, interns as well as medical students. The presentation may involve participants from other departments in the hospital depending on the subject under review.

THURSDAYS – 1:00pm – 3:00pm

• Resident teaching/Ward Round which is supervised by consultants who operate in teams with five consultants in each team.

FRIDAYS – 9:00am – 10:00am

• Mortality Bold Conference – This is where a review of the deaths in the department is exhaustively discussed. Participation is mandatory for all including academic staff, residents and interns. A pathologist is usually in attendance so he can state his post mortem findings after exhaustively discussing the case under review and clarifying ambiguous issues, where they exist.

SUPPORTING ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

1. Confidential Secretary
2. Typist
3. Senior Clerical Officer
4. Health Attendant