Dr. Maryann Ugochi Ibeke
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
It is with great pleasure and humility I address you no longer as the editor of our newsletter, but as the president of our society. At the recently concluded meeting of the African Society of Paediatric and Adolescent Paediatric Endocrinology (ASPAE) that was held at The Sir Ketumile Masire University Hospital, Gaborone, Botswana on 12th of March 2020, I emerged as the new President of this great association. It is an assignment of huge responsibility however I take courage with the unflinching support you all vowed to give me to carry out my duties with utmost diligence. We are in tough times as the world grapples with a pandemic brought about by the ravages of the elusive COVID 19. In response to this global health crisis, ASPAE shall participate in various campaigns that can strengthen the existing public health approach of reducing the transmission of COVID 19. Also advocate for the provision and accessibility of insulin and other essential medical supplies to our patients with type 1 diabetes and other endocrine disorders.
I profoundly appreciate the giant strides made by my predecessors headed by Dr Lucy Mungai, Prof Abiola Oduwole, Dr Renson Mukhwana and Dr Dipesalema Joel in ensuring the rapid growth of our association. In the previous tenure ASPAE launched her first-ever Sub-Saharan school (Summer School) and has since successfully hosted three summer schools. In the same vein, we will continue to push ASPAE to greater heights by enlarging our membership strength. We hope to encourage more fellows to enrol into the PETCA/PETCWA fellowship program in order to increase the number of paediatric endocrinologist across Africa. We also expect to see a doubling of peer review paper publications from our members in high impact journals. Through the strengthening of our relationship with our sister societies- ESPE and ISPAD, our society will not only continue to survive but will thrive and eventually become self-sustaining.
Finally, I wish to congratulate the newly elected executive members of ASPAE made up of exceptionally competent paediatric endocrinologist from various parts of Africa, namely, Dr Beatrice Odongkara(Uganda), the Vice President, Dr Paul Laigong (Kenya), the Treasurer, Dr Kandi Muze (Tanzania), the Secretary, Dr Abok Ibrahim Ishaya(Nigeria), the Editor and Dr Dipesalema Joel(Botswana), ex officio member. Together we shall work with one common goal, which is that- the African children with endocrine disorders may receive optimal care and to make a global impact in advancing the field of paediatric endocrinology. Thank you and God Bless.
Dr. Maryann Ugochi Ibeke