IFPA, Slottsbacken 8, Stockholm (2026)

29/05/2026

What does impact for the global psoriatic community look like?
Our Annual Report 2025 highlights a year of leading global advocacy, uniting stakeholders, strengthening our members, and raising awareness of the links between psoriatic disease and conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and depression.

From the IFPA Forum in Bogotá and the special event we organized at , to our high-level meeting in Geneva and the global celebration of World Psoriasis Day, – together with our members and partners we strengthened recognition of psoriatic disease as a serious noncommunicable disease that must be addressed in global health policies and care approaches.

👉 Read about the milestones we, our members, and partners achieved in 2025:
https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0vJVr10

28/05/2026

We are proud to announce the theme for the 2026 World Psoriasis Day campaign: Young people living with psoriasis – “Look Beyond My Skin.”

Why have we chosen to focus on youth this year? Over 30% of people living with psoriasis experienced their first symptoms in childhood or during their teenage years.

The years between 18 and 35 are critical for shaping the future — making friends, dating, building a family, choosing a field of study or a career path. Living with a condition that is not only physically painful but also highly visible can mean being stared at on the bus, avoided in school hallways, rejected by a potential date, or feeling the need to hide your skin under long sleeves even in the middle of summer.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, and as conversations around mental wellbeing take central stage globally, it is important to acknowledge the invisible emotional burden that often comes with visible conditions like psoriasis.

Many young people living with psoriasis feel embarrassed, left out, lonely, or constantly worried about what others think of them. The emotional toll of stigma and isolation can be even greater than the physical symptoms themselves.

Every young person deserves to experience youth positively — through friendships, romantic relationships, education, career opportunities, self-expression, and the freedom to pursue their dreams.

In this year’s campaign, we would like to give space to young psoriasis heroes to tell their stories and empower each other.

The slogan is a call for society to see the person beyond the disease — to embrace people for who they are and to take their experiences seriously.

So let’s be mindful when we meet someone with a visible condition. Let’s see the whole person, not just the disease. Let’s .

Learn more: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0vJGGm0

27/05/2026

We are thrilled to see that in Africa helped bring psoriasis to the mainstream media conversation and highlight the voices of people living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Read this powerful analytical article exploring the challenges faced by people living with psoriatic disease in Kenya and across the African region.

Many thanks to journalists from The Standard newspaper in Kenya, Maryann Muganda and Ryan Kerubo, for your thoughtful investigative work and for bringing these important stories to Kenyan audiences.

Together, we can shift narratives and mindsets and ensure that experiences of people living with psoriasis are no longer overlooked by the health systems and policymakers.

🔗 Link in first comment 👇

26/05/2026

🔬 As part of Clinical Trials Awareness Month, and following last week’s on May 20, we want to highlight the critical role clinical research plays in advancing medicine and improving patient care.

Behind every approved treatment is a clinical trial, driven by scientists and by the people willing to take part and help move medicine forward.

Clinical trials are essential to medical progress, and it is crucial that they represent the people they are intended to serve. That is why clinical trials should include the diverse populations the medicines and treatments are meant to help. However, in many countries, significant barriers still limit participation.

Today, nearly 90% of clinical trials take place in Europe and North America, while only 4% include participants from Africa and South America. The result is a global evidence gap that risks leaving entire populations underrepresented in medical research.

As part of our Breaking Barriers project, which explores the gaps and challenges in clinical trial inclusion, we have developed a series of practical brochures and booklets designed to raise awareness about clinical trials and promote more inclusive participation:
🔸 Breaking the Myths: Clinical Trials and Psoriatic Disease — this brochure aims to raise awareness about common misconceptions surrounding clinical trials and provide clear, factual information.
🔸 Before You Join a Study: A Practical Guide to Participation in Clinical Trials — designed to help you talk with your doctor about clinical studies and treatment options that may be available.
🔸 Glossary: Common Terms in Clinical Research — understanding the language of clinical trials can be tricky, especially if you are new to the world of clinical research, and this booklet is designed to help.
🔸 Design It Right: A Checklist for Diverse, Equitable, Patient-First Trials — this checklist provides a practical foundation for clinical trial organizers to address gaps in participation and inclusion.

👉 Check out our resources to learn more about clinical trials and inclusive participation:
https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0vFbnG0

19/05/2026

We made it. Perhaps it won’t be exaggeration to say that, together with our members, partners and collaborators, we managed to put psoriasis on the health map in Africa. 🌍

IFPA Forum Africa, held in Nairobi on May 7–9, truly became a historic milestone that opens a new page for everyone living with psoriatic disease on the continent. We encouraged policymakers, experts, researchers, journalists and everyone else – to speak openly about the disease and how it affects lives, families, household economies and our common future.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who shared these three days with us – full of animated discussions, knowledge exchange and experience sharing – and who helped make this Forum so memorable.

Special thanks to:
🔹 PsorAfrica and Psoriasis Association of Kenya for co-hosting the event, for your tireless support and facilitation
🔹 Ambassador James Waweru – for your powerful opening remarks, unwavering support, and for honoring the legacy of Hoseah Waweru, whose advocacy and determination helped lay the foundation for psoriasis advocacy in Kenya and inspired many across the region.
🔹 International Psoriasis Council for organizing the insightful and solutions-focused workshop “From Clinic to Community: Collaborating for psoriatic disease research”
🔹 Our youth panel – Guuled Mohamed, Jente Plu, Abhinand Krishnashankar, Dev Hirani, Samantha Wood, Shrestha Tiwari and Hellen Wangui – for your boldness and eye-opening testimonies about why youth inclusion in health advocacy is essential
🔹 Janet Mbugua for being an incredible host for the Forum, and for your dedication and engagement throughout these days.

And thank you to our member organizations and ambassadors from all over the world for continuing to push this movement forward, year after year. We’ve come a long way together — and giving up has never been an option.

We are truly a global force – with the local strength of Africa combined with united action of our diverse and mighty movement.

This is not the end of the conversation. In the coming months, IFPA will publish a roadmap and a playbook based on the Forum discussions and recommendations.

Then comes the most important part – implementation.
🤝Join us as we continue building momentum for psoriasis advocacy in Africa.

12/05/2026

How do we engage the next generation, utilize AI for advocacy, and strengthen African-led clinical research?

These were some of the big questions explored during three hands-on workshops at the IFPA Africa Forum 2026 in Nairobi on May 7-9.

🔹 Tools and Tactics: Youth engagement

The workshop explored what meaningful youth engagement really looks like. Among strategies discussed were: creating safe youth-led spaces and forums, using platforms like Snapchat, TikTok and WhatsApp. An example from Ghana showed how school outreach campaigns are helping tackle stigma and how children writing articles about psoriasis can help to educate their peers.

🔹 Turning Experience into Evidence: Using AI tools to conduct real-world data studies for advocacy

The workshop explored how AI can support patient organizations with survey design, data analysis, identifying trends, and communicating Real-World Evidence more effectively for advocacy. Participants then tested AI tools in real time by creating survey questions together during the session. The workshop highlighted the importance of ethics, privacy, and critical thinking.

🔹 From Clinic to Community: Collaborating for psoriatic disease research

The workshop, organized by International Psoriasis Council (IPC), highlighted the urgent need for stronger African-led psoriasis research and better representation of diverse skin types in global data. Psoriasis prevalence in African populations is estimated at around 0.005–1%, compared to 2–3% in Caucasian populations, which may be linked to widespread misdiagnosis and limited access to specialists across the continent.

A major focus of the workshop was the Nigerian Psoriasis Registry, led by Prof. Ayanlowo, which aims to build a psoriasis patient database in Nigeria — the world’s most populous African country of over 242 million people. The workshop concluded with a call for more registries and stronger collaboration across Africa.

09/05/2026

🌍 IFPA Forum 2026 took place in Africa for the first time, focusing on tackling psoriasis on the continent under the theme: “Local Strength, United Action: Advancing Representation, Rights and Research.”

Day 3 of the Forum was dedicated to discussions and knowledge exchange among IFPA member organizations from all four regions. The day began with updates on IFPA’s global actions during 2025, presented by IFPA President Ingvar Ágúst Ingvarsson and Vice President Helen Crawford.

The annual updates demonstrated continued progress toward a future where psoriasis is better understood and where people with lived experience are meaningfully included.

This was followed by a networking session showcasing IFPA member benefits, including communications support, the upcoming World Psoriasis Day campaign, the Breaking Barriers project focusing on diversity and inclusion in clinical trials, the upcoming IFPA Conference – and Psoriatic Arthritis Conference taking place in 2027, and the future development of the IFPA Forum concept.

Regional meetings then took place for Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific, creating dedicated spaces for experience-sharing and highlighting successful initiatives from across each region.

The African regional meeting gathered participants from PsorAfrica, including representatives from Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, and Gambia, as well as participants from Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Uganda. The meeting focused on inspiring examples of success from South Africa, Ghana, Gambia, and beyond.

The Forum proved that despite many gaps and systemic challenges, there is strong local leadership and united action working to build the foundation for psoriatic care in Africa and to ensure that millions of people living with psoriasis receive timely diagnosis and care.

There was a shared sense among participants that the meeting was timely, unique, and full of hope and promise for the future.

The work continues — and more countries across Africa need to be brought into this growing movement. ✨📣

09/05/2026

At the IFPA Forum 2026 Africa in Nairobi on May 8, the plenary session, “Young voices, stronger psoriatic disease systems," explored why many patient organizations around the world still struggle to involve young people in a meaningful way and why including youth is essential for their survival.

Young health advocates Guuled Mohamed of UNICEF Sweden and Jente Plu of Psoriasis Patients Netherlands shared insights into the barriers preventing meaningful youth participation.

💬 “Experts on young people are young people themselves. Give them opportunities from the beginning and co-create with them, - highlighted Mohamed.

He spoke about successful experiences in Sweden, including initiatives where young people coached leadership within organizations.

Drawing from her research during an internship at IFPA, Jente Plu challenged the common assumption that young people are not interested in advocacy work.

💬 “The problem is not lack of interest, it is lack of meaningful inclusion, - she underscored.

Young people, she said, look for flexibility, authentic collaboration and communication on platforms that resonate with them.

The session continued with personal testimonies from young IFPA ambassadors, who shared how psoriatic disease has shaped their lives.

Shrestha Tiwari spoke about finding empowerment through sharing her psoriasis journey online and realizing her voice could help others feel less alone.

Dev Hirani talked about being diagnosed at five years old and growing up with decisions being made entirely by adults around him.

Samantha Wood described how severe flare-ups almost forced her to leave school.

Hellen Wangui highlighted the lack of information and support to women navigating psoriasis and pregnancy.

Abhinand Krishnashankar brought attention to the connection between climate change and skin health, also often overlooked.

Throughout the session, speakers reiterated the same message: young people do not want symbolic invitations when the decisions are already made. They want to be listened to, involved and trusted as equal partners.

08/05/2026

Reaching patients with psoriasis in rural areas, advocacy tactics for NCDs, and the need for more diversity in clinical trials — these were the vital topics discussed during the three workshops on the first day of IFPA Forum Africa 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Held under the theme “Local Strength, United Action: Representation, Rights and Research,” the Forum created a historic opportunity to put psoriasis on the map in the African region for the first time.

The workshop on Reaching Rural Areas highlighted the severe shortage of specialists and infrastructure across many African countries, as well as lack of knowledge about psoriasis.

Burundi, for example, has only 6 dermatologists and 1 rheumatologist for a population of more than 14 million people, while Ethiopia has very few specialists and no access to biologics.

Consolidated efforts for better outreach to rural areas are needed to make sure everyone in need is included.

Highlighting that, Dr. Doriane Sabushimike, said:
"We tend to see the people who can afford to be treated, not those with the greatest need... By doing community outreach, we can meet the patients where they are."

The NCD advocacy workshop explored how psoriatic disease can be integrated into national noncommunicable disease strategies and healthcare plans. Discussions focused on the importance of data collection, media engagement, early diagnosis, and ensuring patient advocates have a seat at the policy table.

The session on Breaking Barriers: Increasing Diversity in Clinical Trials focused on the importance of patient involvement in trial design and the need for clinical trials to reflect the populations they aim to serve. Participants stressed that trust, accessible communication, and stronger collaboration with patient organizations are essential to improving participation and reducing fear and misinformation around research.

Across all three workshops, one message stood out clearly: improving psoriasis care in Africa will require stronger collaboration, inclusive representation, and sustained advocacy to ensure no patient is left behind.

of Health Kenya

07/05/2026

Day 1 of the IFPA Forum Africa is officially underway in Nairobi. 🌍

The audience was full and the energy level has been incredible.
The opening plenary session focused on a critical issue for people living with psoriasis across Africa: access to medicines and treatment.

Experts and stakeholders discussed the many barriers patients continue to face — including lack of dermatologists who are aware of the disease, limited availability of medicines, affordability challenges, and unequal access to care across the region.

The discussion brought together diverse perspectives on what can be done to strengthen access to treatment and improve care and conditions for people living with psoriasis on the continent. Many patients from different parts of Africa spoke about their personal journey of navigating fragmented healthcare systems. among other challenges, mentioned: necessity to travel to other countries to meet a dermatologists, fighting stigma and discrimination at workplaces, facing high costs of treatment, that can equal to a whole year salary

One message was clear throughout the session: improving access to care will require stronger collaboration between policymakers, healthcare systems, patient organizations, and the wider health community.

The panel also highlighted the importance of:
🔹 creating a business case for psoriasis and educating policymakers
🔹 improving availability and affordability of treatments
🔹 regarding patients as experts in the disease and including them in policies
🔹 generating local data and intervention studies about psoriasis

Thanks to the panelists and speakers for sharing their expertise, perspectives, and experiences, and for contributing to an important and solutions-focused discussion on the future of psoriasis care in Africa.

Pierre Celestin Habiyaremye, Rwanda Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Organization, Rwanda
Melini Moses, South African Psoriasis Association, South Africa
Tina Ocsner, Psoriasis Association of Kenya
Edwin Kojo Ogara, WHO Kenya Country Office
Mahira El Sayed, Ain Shams University, Egypt
Priscilla Angwenyi, Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya

07/05/2026

IFPA Forum Africa 2026 in Nairobi has officially opened, bringing together patients, advocates, clinicians, and policymakers from across the region. 🌍

This Forum is about more than discussion. It is about action and creating impact for the benefit of millions of people, living with the disease across the vast continent, lacking access to right diagnosis and treatments.

Opening remarks were delivered by: Ingvar Ágúst Ingvarsson, Ambassador James Waweru, Pierre Celestin Habiyaremye and Dr. Evanson Kamuri.

💬 Ingvar Ágúst Ingvarsson said: “Stories, challenges, and the leadership of Africa belong to the global stage.”

💬 Ambassador James Waweru said: “Together we can create a world where psoriasis is understood.”

💬 Pierre Celestin Habiyaremye said: “Access to care should not depend on where you come from or your financial situation.”

💬 Dr. Evanson Kamuri said: “I welcome you. Thank you for choosing Kenya. Thank you for choosing Africa.”

Over the next days, we will share knowledge and shape a roadmap for better care, stronger healthcare systems, and greater equity across the region.

IFPA

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