The Children's Chest and Allergy Clinic at the University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital has been selected as a World Allergy Organization (WAO) Center of Excellence for the 2020-2023 term. Currently, there are only three WAO Centers of Excellence in Africa.

"The purpose of the WAO Centers of Excellence is to intensify and accelerate multi-disciplinary scientific and clinical innovation, education, and advocacy worldwide providing excellence in education, research, and training to various stakeholders in allergy, asthma, and clinical immunology." shared Dr Luis Caraballo, Chairperson of the Centers of Excellence Committee, World Allergy Organization.

The Children's Chest and Allergy Clinic has set standards for patient care, development of research and training programmes since its inception in September 2005. The Clinic has developed a reputation for excellence in the practice of Allergology. It has other related services such as Dietetics, Physiotherapy, ENT support, Dermatology support, Ophthalmology support and Cardiothoracic support.

Professor Robin Green, Director of the Children’s Chest and Allergy Clinic at the University of Pretoria shared that this milestone is possible thanks to the team at the Children's Chest and Allergy Clinic, 'I am so proud of our Clinic and our team. We constantly strive always to deliver the best care to our patients through constant investigation and innovation. This achievement means that our hard work does not go unnoticed" he added.

Over the past fourteen years, the Clinic has contributed significantly to teaching and learning with forty candidates completing the Diploma programme in Allergology. In addition, the Clinic also teaches under-graduate medical students in both clinical Allergology as well as a one week allergy 'Block' in the third year of the MBChB programme at the University of Pretoria.

The Clinic runs a two day per week Allergy service, a full-time in-patient service and a monthly PID clinic. The collaboration with the NHLS and Ampath helps the clinic offer laboratory services for allergy and primary immunodeficiency and provides a route of access to advanced tests for public sector patients.