Paediatric Ear, Nose and Throat Society in Africa
Our History
Ongoing concerns over lack of sufficient ENT surgeons in Africa and poor access to existing knowledge and skill of Paediatric Ear, Nose & Throat surgery from current global structures led to the establishment of Paediatric Ear, Nose & Throat Surgery in Africa or PENTAFRICA in 2017.
Once a pipedream of Dr. Clemence Chidziva, Chief of the Division of Otolaryngology at the University of Zimbabwe; Dr. Peter J. Koltai, Professor of Otolaryngology, Stanford University School of Medicine; and Professor Christopher Prescott, retired Chief of Paediatric Otolaryngology at the University of Cape Town & Red Cross Children’s Hospital, PENTAFRICA has amassed global and loco-regional interest in what has now grown into a recognised paediatric ENT platform for Africans in Africa.
Since then, the 1st PENTAFRICA Conference including an airway workshop & symposium was held in May 2018, in Zimbabwe, and hosted by the Zimbabwean Society of Otolaryngologists (ZISOL).
Our Vision
- The Paediatric Ear, Nose and Throat Society in Africa (PENTAfrica) exists to develop local services for ear, nose, and throat conditions in children across the African continent. In doing so, become advocates that promote healthy child and adolescent health as it relates to childhood growth and development.
- We also aim to create a network of African Paediatric otolaryngologists, obtain advice, grow their services, collectively educate other specialists and conduct research relevant to our population, and our health needs.
Our Mission
- To establish sustainable access of otolaryngological (ENT) services to African children.
- To identify and assist ENT specialists with complex otolaryngologic disorders in children, or common otolaryngologic disorders in complex children with co-morbidities.
- Create initiatives that establish sustainable otolaryngology best practices, driven by evidence-based decision-making that is appropriate for local practise.
- To establish a lasting culture for homegrown research and join international networks on collaborative projects that establish high quality research centres in African academic hubs that are led by paediatric subspecialists.
- To advocate for treatment of ENT-related conditions that burden African children.
Our Objectives
Clinical Services
Improve the Paediatric ENT services across the continent in a way that unites and supports new units with existing African units, through loco-regional and international partnerships.
Education
Developing training and educational programs with special interests in paediatric ENT for otolaryngologists, paediatricians, audiologists and speech therapists.
Sharing knowledge of ENT conditions in African children.
Network
Part of the International Working Group of Paediatric Otolaryngology (IWGPO)
Affiliation to African ENT Communities like AAENTA, SA ENT Society, ZISOL
Research
Subspecialty Societies
