World Pediatric Surgery Day on 7th April: a global advocacy initiative by World Federation of Associations of Pediatric Surgeons (WOFAPS)

Abstract

The World Federation of Associations of Pediatric Surgeons (WOFAPS), founded in 1974, serves as a global umbrella organization representing pediatric surgical associations from over 100 countries. In 2001, WOFAPS adopted the Kyoto Declaration of Pediatric Surgery, which affirms the right of every infant and child to receive surgical care from trained pediatric specialists within appropriately equipped facilities. In alignment with this vision, WOFAPS established April 7 as World Pediatric Surgery (WPS) Day in 2023, with the inaugural observance held in 2024. WPS Day aims to raise public and professional awareness of pediatric surgical conditions, promote education and training, support global equity in surgical care, and reaffirm the principles of the Kyoto Declaration. Celebrated globally, the 2024 and 2025 WPS Days focused on the themes “What is Pediatric Surgery?” and “Why is Pediatric Surgery Important?” respectively. The events included multilingual awareness campaigns, institutional outreach, and a global public health webinar series. Participation spanned over a dozen countries, highlighting both common surgical challenges and regional initiatives. WPS Day has become an essential platform for advocacy, education, and collaboration, reinforcing the commitment to ensuring that all children, irrespective of geographic or socioeconomic status, have access to safe, timely, and specialized surgical care.