World Skin Health Day (Madagascar, Tunisia): Skin Neglected Tropical Diseases

Each year, the Madagascar Society of Dermatology “SOMADER” organizes its annual congress in November. In twenty years of existence, we have been able to tour the six main regions (ex-provinces) and regions (former provinces) and have started to visit the other regions every two years. The accomplishment and success of our scientific days so far are the result of the combination of scientific rigor, the involvement of young people and the support of our loyal partners.

This year is exceptional, the congress will start on June 6 under the auspices of the International League of Dermatology (ILDS) “WORLD SKIN HEALTH DAY (WSHD)”. It will begin as a meeting of international experts on Atopic Dermatitis. Scientific communications will follow on June 7-8, under the chosen theme, “Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) and Atopic Dermatitis” as well as “the use of Teledermatology in the era of the Pandemic”. Communications are focused on activities in Madagascar and on novelties in dermatology by inviting world experts in the field. NTDs are a scourge in our country. This is mainly due to the difficulty of its management, from diagnosis to the cost of treatment.

We will have the honor of having the participation of our collaborators, the Charles Mérieux Center for Infectiology “CICM” laboratory, the University of Grenoble, the French-speaking Society of Tropical Medicine and International Health (SMTSI), the Global Action for Fungus Infection, of our colleagues from Africa (Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Tanzania, South Africa…), the University of Edinburgh, the University Hospital of Zurich, the University of Munich, the International Society of Atopic Dermatitis (ISAD), the International Society of Teledermatology (ISTD) and the PASSION project funded by the Botnar Foundation based in Basel, Switzerland.

The program of these days is part of the training of residents in Dermatology, Infectious Diseases, Parasitology-Mycology, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Public Health. The themes have been specially chosen to arouse the interest of doctors, all specialties combined, for these pathologies which deserve to be controlled. The congress will include 4 half-days of scientific sessions. We would like to thank our institutions and our national and international partners, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the World Health Organization (WHO), the University of Antananarivo with the Faculty of Medicine, the JRB University Hospital Center, the National Academy of Medicine of Madagascar “ANAMEM”, the National Council of the Order of Physicians, the African Society of Dermato-Venereology (ASDV) and partner laboratories. We hope that these exchanges will allow us to move forward in the search for better care for our fellow citizens and patients around the world.

Professor Fahafahantsoa Rapelanoro Rabenja, Madagascar – President of the Madagascar Society of Dermatology (SOMADER)

Professor Mohamed Denguezli, Tunisia – President of the Tunisian Society of Dermatology and Venereology (STDV)

Professor Asmahane Souissi, Tunisia – Treasurer of the Tunisian Society of Dermatology and Venereology (STDV)