SAPA AND SAJCH RESEARCH DAY 2022

Congratulations to Dr Victoria Pickup and her supervisor, Dr Jayneel Joshi, whose data on a palliative stenting procedure of the right ventricular outflow tract in patients with Tetralogy of Fallot while awaiting surgery, won first prize at the first SAPA/SAJCH research day. Dr Pickup's enthusiasm about her research was evident when she presented the findings of this new procedure. The impact of this research is immediately relevant to other paediatric cardiology units in settings where resource limitations delay time-to-surgery in those with cardiac lesions. We look forward to hearing the findings of these patients at follow-up and post-operatively.

Dr Pickup is the first recipient of the Best SAPA Junior Researcher award. The abstract, along with those of the other presenters, is available to view in a supplementary edition of this quarter's edition of SAJCH, and the presentation is available at www.paediatrics.org.za. Prof. John Pettifor, one of the judges and editor of SAJCH, called for more prospective and randomised trial data to be showcased in future events! We trust our young researchers will heed this call and that future research days will build on the excellent precedent set by the first.

SAPA WEBINARS

Join us on the last Wednesday of every month for the SAPA webinar series. In August, the team from Wits Donald Gordon Hospital shared their passion and expertise in the management of children with acute and chronic liver failure. As always, the recording is available on the SAPA YouTube channel. The upcoming webinars include a discussion on paediatric palliative care, in collaboration with Patch-SA, in October and a discussion on perinatal asphyxia, in November. For additional information on SAPA events, or to register for the webinars, click here.

THE PAEDIATRICIAN'S ROLE IN SUPPORTING NURTURING CARE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

As paediatricians and child health practitioners we have a role to play in health promotion for our patients. The scope of paediatric health care extends well beyond the cure of illness. Every day, we have the duty and opportunity to help our little patients each their full potential. While the science of early childhood development cannot be disputed, the role of the paediatrician is not often clear. The graphic alongside show the components of nurturing care, while the article (available here) provides practical steps that a paedatrician can incorporate into his or her practice, including how to promote responsive caregiving and advocacy ideas that may resonate with you. Your role in creating a generation of thriving children cannot be underestimated! To illustrate this, read the blog post, entitled 'Sacrificing children's health in the name of Health' by Dr Tracy Beth Hoeg, a US-based physician and epidemiologist. Dr Hoeg offers her insights and reflections on the impact of the public health policies related to children's health in various countries during the Covid-19 pandemic. If nothing else, the child healthcare worker is an advocate for ensuring that every child achieves her maximum developmental potential. We may attain this by being alert to where public health policies are failing our children and causing lasting negative impacts on their health, and adding our voices and actions to those that are speaking out, where necessary.

CHILD HEALTH PRIORITIES CONFERENCE, 24 - 26 NOVEMBER 2022

The South African Child Health Priorities Association annual conference will be held in Johannesburg in November 2022. The programme includes topical issues in nutrition, a session discussing how the National Health Insurance will impact on children and reflections on the crumbling health services, and steps to remedy the status quo. This meeting offers an opportunity to hear from experts in various sectors on the state of child health in South Africa as well as engage in healthy debate on the next steps in achieving more and doing better. Visit https://childhealthpriorities.co.za/to view the programme and to register attendance.