Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

DR. TAMUNOIYOWUNA GRACE OKARI MB,BS; MWACP; FWACP(Paed)

Ag. Head of Department E mail: tamunoiyowuna.okari@ust.edu.ng

Paediatrics And Child Health

INTRODUCTION

Paediatrics and Child Health is one of the core departments in the faculty of clinical sciences, College of Medicine, Rivers State University. This branch of medicine is focused on teaching medical students both preventive and curative care of newborns, infants, children and adolescents, in addition to understanding the interplay between social, economic, environmental, cultural, geographic and political factors and the health of children.

The aim of the course is to give the students a good foundation in different disciplines of Paediatrics and Child Health, which include Adolescent Health, Cardiology, Community Paediatrics, Emergency Paediatrics, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Haematology, Infectious diseases, Neonatology, Nephrology, Neurology, Oncology and Palliative Care, Paediatric Dermatology, Respiratory Paediatrics and Social Paediatrics.

The course enables students to acquire skills in history taking, physical examination, bedside and side laboratory investigations, basic procedures, making appropriate diagnosis and requesting appropriate investigations to confirm the diagnosis, as well as knowing the treatment options available for the patient. The curriculum has been designed to achieve both the global and unique needs of practicing paediatrics in a developing and tropical country in terms of knowledge, skills and character. The training occurs during the 5^th year of the MB;BS programme with didactic lectures and clinical postings in clinics and wards of the department. Since its inception in 2019, it has been involved in training undergraduate students. However, Postgraduate training in the department has been advertised and is scheduled to begin in the 2025/2026 University Academic Calendar.

Staff list in the Department

Name	Rank/Designation	Area of Specialization	Email Address
Prof. Assumpta U. Chapp-Jumbo	Professor/Dean, FCS	Neonatology Dermatology	assumpta.chapp-jumbo@ ust.edu.ng
Dr. Tamunoiyowuna G. Okari	Senior Lecturer/Ag. HOD	Gastroenterology/Nutrition Community & Social Paediatrics	tamunoiyowuna.okari@ust.edu.ng
Dr. Boma A. West	Reader	Neonatology	boma.west1@ust.edu.ng
Dr. Uchenna C. Onubogu	Reader	Cardiology/Pulmonology	uchenna.onubogu@ust.edu.ng
Dr. Josephine E. Aitafo	Reader	Endocrinology	josephine.aitafo@ust.edu.ng
Dr. Datonye Briggs	Reader	Nephrology	datonye.briggs1@ust.edu.ng
Dr. Appollus E. Josiah	Senior Lecturer	Haematology/Oncology	josiah.appollus@ust.edu.ng
Dr. Woroma Wonodi	Senior Lecturer	Neurology Child Development	woroma.wonodi@ust.edu.ng
Dr. Chioma Okechukwu	Senior Lecturer	Haemato-Oncology	chioma.okechukwu@ust.edu.ng
Dr. Adaku O. Arthur	Lecturer I	Neonatology	adaku.orobosa@ust.edu.ng
Dr. Obuoma Amaewhule	Lecturer I	Cardiology/Pulmunology	obuoma.umejuru@ust.edu.ng
Dr. Sopakirite Douglas	Lecturer I	Neurology & Child Development	sopakirite.douglas@ust.edu.ng
Dr. Chimuanya R. Dimkpa	Lecturer I	Infectious disease/Rheumatology	chimuanya.dimkpa@ust.edu.ng
Dr. Gloria N. Nwosu	Lecturer I		gloria.nwosu@ust.edu.ng
Dr. Ijeoma N. Amadi	Lecturer I		ijieoma.amadi@ust.edu.ng
Otto Justina Amiesia	Aministrative Officer II
Victor Uzoma Amadi	Aministrative Officer II

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PROGRAMME

To teach theoretical principles and clinical skills of Paediatrics and Child Health to students both at the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. In addition to stimulating staff to carry out quality research in Paediatrics published in high impact reputable journals to increase the visibility of the department both at the local and international Paediatric Community and render Community Services in the different disciplines.

STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAMME

The Department is in the Faculty of Clinical sciences, College of Medical Sciences and has teaching and nonteaching staff. It has various cadres of teaching staff and two Administrative Officers, one of which serves as the Secretary of the department.

PHILOSOPHY OF THE PROGRAMME

To produce socially responsive medical graduates who possess sufficient knowledge of Paediatrics and Child Health and are competent to diagnose and treat common childhood diseases and emergencies both locally and internationally.

Training Objectives

To introduce the learners to the global principles and practice of Paediatrics and Child Health, with particular emphasis on the practice in the tropics.
To enable learners to understand the principles of Integrated Maternal, New born and Child Health (IMNCH).
To equip the learners with the cognitive knowledge and technical skills and clinical judgement, to enable them achieve some measure of competence and reasonable confidence in the practice of Paediatrics and Child Health.
To enable the learners, have a good working relationship with all those involved in health care delivery especially with respect to maternal and child health, and to appreciate the need for this team work.