History

The East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) is a regional organization set up in 1974 to foster cooperation and strengthening of health care programmes among member states in the region.

The ECSA-HC Conference of Health Ministers is the highest governing body of ECSA-HC and meets annually to review policy matters, national health strategies and to define regional health priorities.
Through a Health Ministers resolution (ECSA/HMC54/R9) the East Central and Southern Africa College of Health Sciences (ECSA-CHS) was established in 2014.

Recognizing significant gaps in Human Resources for Health, particularly the shortage of specialised medical professionals, the Health Ministers Conference proposed an additional training approach – the collegiate model, to supplement traditional university education. This approach, known as the fellowship programme, facilitates specialised training within the workplace.

In 2019, the National Paediatric Associations and Societies in the ECSA region began discussions on the need for a unified approach to pediatric training and development.

The Representatives from various Paediatric Associations met and resolved to establish the East Central and Southern Africa College of Paediatrics and Child Health (ECSAPACH) on April 15, 2021.

This led to submission of a formal request, along with the requisite instruments, including the College Constitution and Paediatric Residency Training Curriculum to register and affiliate ECSAPACH to the ECSA-CHS.

On February 9, 2023, the East Central and Southern Africa Health Community at its 71st Health Ministers Conference approved the establishment of ECSAPACH. The East Central and Southern Africa College of Paediatrics and Child Health is a constituent college of the ECSA-CHS.