The inaugural KAPS Conference was held at the Nyali Beach Holiday Resort, on the 18th and 19th May 2023, bringing together 75 delegates, speakers, and sponsors, with space for four exhibition booths, in a dynamic conference hall and garden
Over the two-day meeting, the conference featured a total of 36 presentations
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Bindi Naik-Mathuria, Chief of Pediatric Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. Drawing from her Kenyan roots and extensive global experience, she spoke on paediatric surgical oncology and global surgery, highlighting the growing cancer surgery burden in low- and middle-income countries and sharing collaborative research on Wilms’ tumor with suprarenal intravascular extension from 19 North American centres.
The conference also marked important regional and interdisciplinary collaborations from SPAK and other esteemed international and national speakers, including:
Prof. Sameh Shehata (Egypt) – “Surgery for Intra-abdominal Testis: Lessons from 15 Years’ Experience”
Justice John Chigiti (Kenya) – “Intersex and the Law”
Dr. Deepak Parmar (Kenyatta University Teaching & Referral Hospital) – “Fetal Medicine for Paediatric Surgery in Kenya”
Mr. Koima Raphael (AMPATH Kenya) – Regional collaboration and partnerships in paediatric oncology
The inaugural KAPS Conference successfully set the foundation for ongoing knowledge exchange, collaboration, and advocacy toward safe and sustainable paediatric surgical care in Kenya and the region.