The healthcare sector is expected to play a central role in South-South cooperation, said Saïd Afif, pediatrician and president of the Moroccan Society of Medical Sciences, on Thursday.
According to data from Morocco’s Ministry of Higher Education, 19,256 African students, or nearly 83% of the 23,411 international students enrolled in Morocco in 2021, chose the country for their studies. The medical field is among the most attractive sectors.
In a statement to the African Press Agency, on the eve of the opening of the first African Pediatric Congress scheduled for January 10–12 in Casablanca, Mr. Afif emphasised the importance of strengthening child health in Africa through research and scientific exchanges.
“Morocco hosts many African students who have chosen medicine as their field of study,” he said, highlighting the need to train these future practitioners while taking into account the specificities of the continent.
The 1st African Pediatric Congress aligns with this vision, bringing together several international, European, and African scientific associations specialising in pediatrics.
The event will provide an opportunity to discuss major topics related to the health of newborns, infants, and children, as well as the challenges faced at the continental level, he added.
Organised under the patronage of King Mohammed VI, the congress reflects Morocco’s active presence on the African stage, particularly in the health sector, in line with the Royal High Directives aimed at strengthening South-South partnerships.
“Health is a cornerstone of this partnership and a lever for parallel diplomacy,” he emphasised.
For the first time, the African Pediatric Award Dr. Abdelatif Berrada will be presented at the congress. The award aims to encourage projects and research in the field of African pediatrics, Mr. Afif said.
The Casablanca Pediatric Association of the private sector is organising this congress in partnership with the Moroccan Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the Mohammed VI Foundation for Science and Health.
The event, which will be held in Casablanca, will include conferences and workshops, bringing together representatives from the International Pediatric Association, the Francophone Association of Black African Pediatricians, the Francophone Pediatric Association, and other renowned scientific organisations from Europe, the Maghreb, and the rest of Africa.
SL/ac/lb/as/APA