We are implementing change across Africa by creating a network of skilled child-health specialists who are building capacity for saving children’s lives while strengthening health systems.
The APFP began in 2008 at the University of Cape Town (UCT).
Since then, two more African Universities have joined the training network: The University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and the University of Kwazulu-Natal in Durban.
Nursing Specialist children’s training is led by the Child Nurse Practice Development Initiative in collaboration with the Division of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Cape Town
Our Approach
The training programme
The APFP medical and nursing fellows are selected by a network of academic partner institutions across Africa. Currently 39 institutions from 17 African countries make up the APFP partner network, who choose the candidates for the program and ensure that there are positions available to them upon completion.
Returning home
The APFP fellows are primarily from and are returning to the public health system, where the need for child-health specialists is the greatest. The result has been a more than 90% retention rate of graduates remaining in their home country and leading child health services, training, and research.
Building a network
The APFP has created a supportive, resource-rich alumni network of child-health specialists across Africa, which fosters the sharing of knowledge and best practices.
