Posted on: Mon 18-07-2016

COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE FIRST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE OF THE AFRICAN SOCIETY OF DERMATOLOGY AND VENEREOLOGY AND THE 10TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE OF THE NIGERIAN ASSOCIATION OF DERMATOLOGISTS HELD AT SHERATON ABUJA HOTEL AND TOWERS FROM 13TH -16TH JULY, 2016

PREAMBLE

·         The Inaugural Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the African Society of Dermatology and Venereology and the 10th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Association of Dermatologists was held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja from 13th -16th July, 2016.

·         The Special Guest of Honour, Her Excellency Mrs. Aisha Buhari, ably represented by the Former Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Dame Pauline Tallen, declared the meeting open on Thursday, the 13th of July, 2016. The Honorable Minister for Health, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole was the Chairman and Chief Host while the Keynote Speaker was Dr (Mrs.) Ipalibo Banigo, Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Nigeria.

·         Other distinguished guests present were the NMA President, Prof. Mike Ogirima; Representative of the Kenya High Commissioner, Mr. Linus Ogolo, the Trade Commissioner; Controller Medical, Nigerian Prisons, Dr Emmanuel Toby; Dr Claire Fuller representing the International League of Dermatologists, Prof Thomas Ruzcika representing the International Society of Dermatology, Prof Yetunde Olumide representing the NAD Board of Trustees, amongst others.

·         The executives of the newly inaugurated ASDV were all present.

·         The Theme of the Conference was Dermatology in Africa: Peculiarities, Challenges and Victories  and the Sub Themes were:

o    Dermatopathology

o    Teledermatology

o   Complications from the abuse of skin lightening agents

·         About 128 dermatologists and dermatology residents from Nigeria and eight other African Countries were in attendance. African Countries represented were Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, South Africa, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Cote D’Ivoire and Rwanda.  Faculty from the United States, United Kingdom and Germany featured prominently in the preconference workshop and the scientific sessions.

·         The Academic activities of the meeting included the following:

• Aesthetic Dermatology Training which held from 10^th -11^th July, 2016. Resource persons were:
  • Dr Ayman El-Attar (USA)
  • Dr DanMallam Bashir (Nigeria)
• Dermatopathology workshop which had 87 registered delegates from all over Nigeria held at the Trauma Center of the National Hospital, Abuja on 12^th July, 2016. Pathologists and pathology residents were among the delegates. Resource persons were:
• Prof Eduardo Calonje (United Kingdom)
• Prof Moussa Diallo (Senegal)
• Dr. Daudi Mavuri(Tanzania)
• Dr Ehiaghe Anaba(Nigeria)
• The Guest Lecture, titled Dermatology in Africa was delivered by Dr (Mrs.) Ipalibo Banigo, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Nigeria
• Symposia were mounted by Pathcare Laboratories, Thompson and Grace Pharmaceuticals, ISIS Pharma France, L’Oreal and Procter and Gamble.
• Lectures on the subthemes of the conference were delivered.
• The Chair, International Foundation for Dermatology, Dr Claire Fuller emphasized the need to promote community dermatology in Africa and encouraged the countries to use the model of Tanzania which has a Regional Training Centre in Moshi, Tanzania.
• There was a presentation by the Director, National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program.
• Scientific presentations and case reports were made by Residents and Fellows of the Association. These included presentations in different areas of dermatology.

OBSERVATIONS

·         There is an urgent need for improved community dermatology practice across Countries and Regions. This entails healthcare workers at primary level for early intervention and appropriate referral to higher levels of healthcare.  Teledermatology which allows healthcare professionals transfer data for the sake of medical consultation to anywhere in the world was also emphasized.

·         The abuse of skin lightening agents in Africa is a great source of concern to us as dermatologists because their deleterious effects are seen in our daily practices. These complications which are both local and systemic have most likely contributed to the burden of non-communicable disease in the country..

·         A rising incidence of leprosy in Nigeria was observed.  There is a pressing need to improve on the availability of all Anti Leprosy drugs as access to these medications are limited especially for patients who need prolonged treatment. The non-inclusion of dermatologists in the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program was also noted.

·         There is presently no Dermatology Reference Laboratory in the country.

·         Quality of life is significantly reduced in Nigerian children with atopic dermatitis.

·         Dearth of Dermatopathologists in the country. This was why the preconference was dedicated for this purpose where both International and African Faculty were on ground to extensively update and teach on the histopathological features of common skin diseases.

·         The need to develop standardized National Guidelines and Protocols for diseases and conditions commonly seen in our environment was also observed.

RESOLUTIONS

1. To seek continued development of Dermatology as a specialty in Nigeria and the African continent.
2. To provide continued support to the Government in the area of manpower development in the Health Sector.
3. To seek continued promotion of skin health to Nigerians and Africans in General.
4. To play an advisory and consultative role to Government in the planning and  delivery of health care services in the country.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1.         The Federal Ministry of Health to establish a National Skin Hospital with a Reference Laboratory in the country. This will improve research and training in dermatology and also help generate epidemiological data on prevalent dermatoses in Nigeria.

2.         There is need for the Federal Government to establish Regional Dermatology Training centres where nurses and other primary health care workers can receive training for Community Dermatology. This will help in achieving the aim of the present administration of reversing the current inverted pyramid in the health care structure.

3.         There is need for improvement in information and communication technology in Africa. This will greatly enhance Teledermatology especially in the rural areas.

4.         NAD will continue to partner with relevant bodies such as NAFDAC to ensure that Nigerians are informed of the dangers of using topical medications or cosmetics that may be dangerous to their health.

5.         Involvement of Nigerian Association of Dermatolgists in the planning and development of health policies, guidelines and protocols especially as regards leprosy control in an advisory and consultative capacity.

6.         There is need to separate leprosy from TB control for more efficient running of the program to reduce the burden of this highly preventable disease. This will improve access to leprosy drugs.

7.         There is a pressing need to modify the current public enlightenment programs which depict only the florid and disabling stages of leprosy with reduced emphasis on early recognizable stages of the disease. This is highly stigmatizing.

8.         Governments should put in place policies to regulate the activities of non professionals and other persons involved in the provision of skin care services.

9.         Provide enabling environment and capacity for subspecialisation in different areas of dermatology.

APPRECIATION

The Association wishes to extend its profound gratitude to:

• Her Excellency, the wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs Aisha Buhari
• The Honorable of Health, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof Isaac Folorunsho Adewole
• The Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr Ipalibo Banigo
• The NMA President, Dr Mike Ogirima
• The International League of Dermatological Societies and the International Federation for Dermatology
• The International Society of Dermatology
• Corporate and Private Sponsors

Dr Grace Okudo (AIG rtd)

Consultant Physician/Dermatologist

NAD President

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