IFPA

23/04/2026

Big news for Africa’s first-ever psoriasis summit 🌍

May 7–9 in Nairobi, the IFPA Forum Africa 2026 – Local Strength, United Action – will bring together policymakers, clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates to tackle one of the continent’s most underrecognized chronic diseases.

We’re proud to share that Janet Mbugua — renowned Kenyan media professional and passionate advocate for social change — will host the Forum.

She said: “I’m truly honored to host the IFPA Forum Africa. Psoriasis affects millions of people, yet it’s still not spoken about enough. This is an opportunity to bring those stories to the forefront, shed light on the real challenges people are facing, and support the work being done locally to strengthen care, research, and policy across the continent.”

With over 3.5 million people in Africa living with psoriasis, the need for action is urgent. Too many still face limited access to care, stigma, and are burdened with significant economic impact.

This landmark Forum will focus on:
🔹 Strengthening local research
🔹 Elevating patient voices and representation
🔹 Advancing rights, access to treatment, and inclusion in national health strategies

📍 Nairobi, Kenya
📅 May 7–9, 2026

This is more than a meeting — it’s a turning point for the psoriatic community in Africa.

21/04/2026

Ahead of IFPA Forum Africa, a clear sign of growing political engagement — from both the Kenyan government and the United Nations representation in Geneva.

We are honored to welcome Ambassador James Waweru, Kenya’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, who has confirmed his participation in the IFPA Forum Africa in Nairobi on 7–9 May.

His decision to travel from Geneva to Nairobi to deliver opening remarks and take part in the discussions reflects increasing recognition — at national and multilateral levels — that psoriasis is a global public health challenge that requires attention.

Ambassador James Waweru said:
“We commend IFPA’s commitment to collaborating with African stakeholders to bring psoriasis into the spotlight. Together, we can ensure people have access to timely diagnosis and high-quality, affordable care so they can live full lives free from stigma and discrimination.”

🌍Psoriasis affects millions across Africa, yet remains underdiagnosed, undertreated, and widely misunderstood.

That’s why this Forum in📍Nairobi (May 7–9) brings together patients, advocates, clinicians, and policymakers from across the region to address local challenges, share knowledge, and shape a roadmap for action.

16/04/2026

We are happy to see that IFPA Forum Africa is making headlines

The New Times Rwanda covered the upcoming IFPA Forum Africa 2026 — a landmark moment in addressing one of the continent’s most overlooked health challenges.

Psoriasis affects millions across Africa, yet remains underdiagnosed, undertreated, and widely misunderstood.

That’s why this Forum in Nairobi (May 7–9) brings together patients, advocates, clinicians, and policymakers to drive real change — from improving access to care to amplifying patient voices.

No one living with psoriasis should be unseen or unheard.

This is more than an event — it’s a step toward health equity, awareness and action across the region.

👉 Read the article: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0tB4Lq0

A chronic skin disease affecting millions but still widely under-recognised and often misdiagnosed across the continent, will be in focus in Nairobi at the first Africa-focused...

13/04/2026

One dermatologist for more than a million people — this is the reality of accessing care for people living with psoriasis in many parts of the African continent. 🌍

People living with psoriasis in Africa face challenges due to the lack of knowledge of the disease by healthcare professionals, both within conventional and traditional medicine.

With most care paid out of pocket, treatment for psoriasis is often unaffordable, making the disease a pathway into poverty for many families.

To drive change, we are organizing a global summit in📍Nairobi, Kenya, on 7–9 May — IFPA Forum Africa — to discuss local challenges in tackling psoriasis and work with the local patient organizations to create a roadmap for action.

Ahead of the Forum, we have developed a briefing book that brings together evidence, lived experience, and regional insights on psoriasis in Africa.

👉 You can read it here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0trFQj0

10/04/2026

Last week, our IFPA delegation joined the Annual Meeting — one of the most inspiring and dynamic gatherings in dermatology this year.

It was great to reconnect with colleagues, partners, and friends across the community, including International Psoriasis Council, National Psoriasis Foundation, and GRAPPA Network.

A few reflections and takeaways from the sessions and discussions:
This year’s conference highlighted major progress in treatment options, as well as new consensus and guidelines that will have a positive impact on the psoriasis community.
🔹 One of the clear trends is how treatment expectations in psoriasis have increased.
Clinicians pointed out the shift from PASI 50 to PASI 90/100 (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index – a common measure of disease severity), which is a clear signal that near or complete skin clearance is becoming standard practice, not the exception.
🔹 Researchers reinforced psoriasis as a systemic disease.
The evidence presented on comorbidities and disease progression stood out, as it supports a broader view of care beyond skin symptoms.
🔹 Clinicians are pushing for earlier and more individualized treatment.
The discussion is slowly but surely moving from a reactive, step-up approach, where treatments start with less effective options and escalate over time - to a more proactive model focused on earlier, targeted, and individualized treatment and disease control.
🔹 The number of effective treatment options continues to grow.
With several therapies showing similar efficacy, the focus is shifting toward choosing what works best for each individual patient.
🔹 Access to treatment remains uneven, and this was openly acknowledged.
Participants highlighted gaps between countries and the slow uptake of updated guidelines, underlining the need for continued advocacy and collaboration.

Overall, AAD reflected a field that is evolving quickly — both in how psoriatic disease is understood and how it is managed. Across sessions, there was clear momentum toward treating psoriatic disease more holistically and earlier in its course.

Thanks to the organizers for a well-run and engaging meeting — and to everyone who contributed.

07/04/2026

🌍 This , we celebrate patient advocates and health activists worldwide, who stand up for their communities and relentlessly fight for equitable access to healthcare.

Achieving health equity is only possible when health systems and policies are shaped by people with lived experience of the disease.

Meet Wang Ya Hsin from Taiwan – she is one such advocate. When a government decision threatened to negatively impact the psoriatic community in her country, she took action and mobilized the local psoriatic community. Together, they managed to challenge the policy and reverse the decision.

This story is a reminder: when patient voices unite, they can drive real policy change. ✨

👉 Read the full interview here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0tfYHT0

27/03/2026

We are proud to announce our IFPA Forum 2026 taking place in📍Nairobi, Kenya on May 7–9. The event is themed: ‘Local Strength, United Action: Advancing Representation, Rights and Research.’

The event is the first-ever regional summit dedicated exclusively to psoriasis in Africa – one of the continent’s most neglected chronic diseases.

Over 3.5 million people are estimated to live with psoriasis across Africa – a continent of approximately 1.3 billion people. Experts warn the real psoriasis burden is likely higher due to limited epidemiological data, low awareness of the disease, and severe shortages of specialists.

At the IFPA Forum in Nairobi, we will bring together policymakers, clinicians, researchers, and patient organizations to address a condition that remains under-recognized and underdiagnosed across the continent.

We look forward to engaging in impactful discussions with our member organizations, diverse experts, and African stakeholders – transforming local strength into decisive action and lasting change.

👉 Read more about the event:
https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0t16jV0

13/03/2026

We are honored to introduce the Scientific Executive Committee for the IFPA Conference 2027 – a group of internationally respected experts driving innovation and scientific excellence in the field.

✔️Jo Lambert – is a Senior Full Professor in Dermatology and Venereology, she specializes in the fields of immune dermatoses. Her research interests lie in the improvement of care in immune-mediated inflammatory skin conditions.

✔️Joel M. Gelfand – Professor, internationally recognized expert in psoriasis, epidemiology, drug safety, and clinical trials.

✔️Vinod Chandran – Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto, a rheumatologist and expert on psoriatic arthritis, clinician scientist.

Their combined expertise will help shape a world-class scientific program for IFPA Conference 2027 – the only global scientific event dedicated to frontline research in psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and related fields.

👉 Discover more on the IFPA Conference website: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0sDZ070

05/03/2026

Did you know that every medical breakthrough begins with clinical trials?

Before a new treatment or medicine reaches patients, it goes through multiple stages of clinical trials. These studies follow strict scientific and ethical standards—and they rely on people who choose to take part and contribute to medical progress.

But here’s the challenge: many people have never heard about clinical trials, or find them difficult to understand. The language used by scientists and clinical research teams can feel confusing or unfamiliar, making it harder for people to learn about opportunities to participate.

As part of our Breaking Barriers project, we’re exploring what prevents diverse communities and social groups from participating in clinical trials. One key barrier we’ve identified is language. 💬

Understanding the terminology can empower people to make informed decisions about participating in research.

That’s why we’re creating a Glossary of Common Terms in Clinical research – a resource designed to make the language of clinical research clearer and easier to navigate.

Stay tuned for the launch of our glossary!

Together, we can break barriers and build more inclusive medical research.

👉 Read more: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0sljCP0

04/03/2026

Today is World Obesity Day. 🌍

Nearly 3 billion people worldwide are living with overweight and obesity. By 2035, that number could rise to 4 billion — almost half of the global population. Among children, rates are rising rapidly, with 1 in 5 now living with obesity.

Obesity does not occur or exist in isolation.

Obesity is a complex, chronic disease and a major driver of other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), affecting overall health and quality of life in profound ways.

What is rarely discussed is the close connection between obesity and psoriatic disease. Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are driven by systemic inflammation — and people living with these conditions have a higher risk of developing obesity. In turn, obesity can worsen inflammatory pathways and impact disease severity and treatment outcomes.

The powerful link between obesity and mental health should not be underestimated. Weight-based discrimination remains widespread, contributing to stigma and isolation, deepening inequalities, and increasing the risk of depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.

No one should have to navigate a chronic disease while also carrying the weight of stigma.

We can rewrite the story of obesity — together — by recognizing its complexity, addressing its links to other chronic conditions, and putting dignity and empathy at the center of the conversation.

Want to know more about the link between psoriasis, obesity and other noncommunicable diseases?
👉 Read our report: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0sjf_W0

03/03/2026

🌟 Save the Date for IFPA Conference 2027! 🌟

We are proud to announce the theme of the next IFPA Conference:
✨ From Burden to Breakthrough: Bridging Science, Innovation and Patient-Centered Care ✨

📅 May 20–22, 2027
📍 Waterfront Congress Centre, Stockholm

Get ready for the 8th World Psoriasis & Psoriatic Arthritis Conference — the only global multidisciplinary scientific event dedicated to cutting-edge research in psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and related fields.

Bringing together leading experts in dermatology, rheumatology, and beyond, this conference will provide a dynamic platform to:

🔬 Exchange groundbreaking research
🌍 Deepen understanding of psoriatic disease and its comorbidities
💡 Explore innovation and collaboration opportunities
🤝 Strengthen patient-centered approaches to care

📅 Important Dates
• September 1, 2026 – Registration opens
• October 1, 2026 – Abstract submission opens

👉 Learn more and stay updated:
https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0sgb0z0

28/02/2026

🌍 Rare is many.
Over 300 million people live with rare diseases – yet too often, their voices are not heard. Today, on , IFPA stands with everyone living with rare diseases, their families and caregivers, including people with rare forms of psoriasis.

Prevalence shouldn’t determine care. Everyone deserves equal access to treatment and support. 💙

Rare Disease Day