4th African Dermatology Conference: Africa focuses on expertise and innovation

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Extract from the article: The 4th African Dermatology Conference will take place on 14 and 15 September 2026 in Lomé. Organised by the Pierre Fabre Foundation, in collaboration with the Togolese Society of Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Infections (SOTODERM), the co....

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The 4th African Dermatology Conference will take place on 14 and 15 September 2026 in Lomé. Organised by the Pierre Fabre Foundation, in collaboration with the Togolese Society of Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Infections (SOTODERM), the conference will bring together dermatologists, GPs, researchers, public health professionals and partners to discuss issues relating to skin health in Africa.

Following on from Bamako in 2017, Lomé in 2019 and Abidjan in 2022, this fourth edition aims to strengthen the sharing of experiences, professional training and research, whilst promoting solutions tailored to African realities.

For the Pierre Fabre Foundation, which has been committed for several years to improving access to healthcare and high-quality medicines in the Global South, this conference goes beyond a mere scientific gathering. “We wish to foster skills development, facilitate the sharing of experiences and bring together the various stakeholders, so that together we can develop responses tailored to the needs of the African continent,” emphasised Professor Serge Resnikoff, trustee and chair of the Pierre Fabre Foundation’s Scientific Committee.

A public health issue

The recognition of skin diseases as a public health issue, notably through World Health Organisation (WHO) Resolution WHA78.15, lends particular significance to this meeting.

For Jean-Marie Tessi, Togo’s Minister of Health, this recognition must now be reflected in practice. “There can be no truly universal coverage if certain conditions, certain populations or certain regions remain excluded from access to quality care,” he stated.

Dermatology is not, in fact, solely about physical health. “A skin condition can cause pain, exclusion, stigmatisation and profound psychological distress,” the minister pointed out, emphasising that treating the skin also means restoring patients’ confidence and dignity.

Faced with the burden of skin diseases in sub-Saharan Africa and the shortage of specialists, participants called for better integration of dermatological care into primary healthcare, the strengthening of healthcare staff’s skills and more equitable access to specialist expertise.

The challenge of a shortage of dermatologists

In Togo, the shortage of specialists remains particularly acute. The country has 24 dermatologists for a population of around eight million, which equates to approximately one dermatologist for every 400,000 people. The majority are concentrated in Lomé: 17 dermatologists practise there, compared with two in Tsévié, four in Kara and one in Dapaong.

For Dr Raymond Barruet, acting president of SOTODERM, this situation justifies the development of solutions to bring specialist expertise closer to the population. Since 2018, SOTODERM has therefore been supported by the Pierre Fabre Foundation for a teledermatology project covering the whole country, with the exception of the Lomé-Commune region where specialist care is already available. Over the past eight years, the project has trained 202 healthcare workers in the management of common skin conditions, provided expert advice on 4,395 cases referred via the Bogou teledermatology platform, and managed 52,599 cases of common skin conditions at teledermatology sites.

The partnership also focuses on the care of people with albinism. Between 2019 and 2023, seven mobile consultation campaigns enabled 1,362 people with albinism to be seen. The current caseload stands at 135 people.

Telemedicine, artificial intelligence and training

The conference places great emphasis on technological innovations, particularly telemedicine and artificial intelligence. These tools could help to improve diagnostic support, early detection and patient referral, particularly in areas far from specialists.

“Distance must no longer condemn a patient to a diagnostic odyssey or delay their treatment,” emphasised the Minister for Health.

The programme also includes lectures, round-table discussions and practical workshops focusing on dermatopathology, dermatological surgery, dermoscopy and clinical research. For Professor Emmanuel Armand Kouotou, President of the Francophone African Dermatology Society (SODAF), this conference provides an important forum for information, continuing medical education and the sharing of experiences. It will also provide an opportunity to take stock of teledermatology initiatives carried out in Mali, Mauritania and Togo, amongst other places.

Raymond DZAKPATA