The paediatrician and child health specialist in a resource poor country like Uganda has many roles, which include diagnosis, management, and prevention of diseases of children, promotion of child health and advocacy for children’s rights, research and training. This means that the paediatrician must be both clinically sound and able to recognize the wider community and societal issues involved in the causation of child health problems. They should be aware of the need for innovative multi sectoral programmes to improve the life and health of children and their families.
Children under the age of 15 years comprise about 50% of the population in most developing countries, while 20% of the population consists of under- fives. The need for doctors with specialist training in Paediatrics and Child Health in Uganda was recognized in the 1960’s and training started towards the end of that decade. However, this need still remains because of the high morbidity and mortality among children, especially under- fives in the country. The M.Med (Paediatrics and Child Health) program is designed to address this need.