Speak up for psoriatic disease

Local Strength, United Action: Advancing Representation, Rights, and Research
 

7–9 May 2026 | Nairobi, Kenya

In 2026, IFPA will put the spotlight on the African region, hosting the IFPA Forum in Nairobi, Kenya. This Forum will break tradition, extending over three days to incorporate more training, and workshops.

The IFPA Forum 2026 will gather stakeholders from across Africa to address challenges related to psoriatic disease.

People living with psoriatic disease in Africa face challenges due to the lack of knowledge of the disease by healthcare professionals, both within conventional and traditional medicine. IFPA has been advocating for people living with psoriasis since 1971, raising awareness of the disease, and driving policy for improved care and inclusion. Each year, the IFPA Forum shines a spotlight on one region of the world. In 2026, we are committed to strengthening the voices and experiences of the psoriatic disease community in Africa.

Patient organizations in Africa and worldwide play a crucial role in spreading the knowledge of the disease, advocating for improved access to care, and uniting the communities affected by it. When these organizations are well supported and empowered, they can significantly improve the lives of those living with the condition. The IFPA Forum will facilitate dialogue between patient organizations and all relevant stakeholders.

The Forum aims to:

• Foster collaborations between patient organizations, medical professionals and other relevant stakeholders within the Africa region
• Find solutions to regional and global challenges for people living with psoriatic disease
• Share best practices and practical tools to empower patient organizations, their growth, and their national and regional work.

Hosts

IFPA and PsorAfrica

Forum participants will include: 

• IFPA Members’ country representatives
• IFPA partners and aligned organizations
• NCD Alliance partners and members
• Global and regional public health organizations and individuals
• WHO and African regional organizations representatives 
   

Preliminary Agenda

Day 1 | May 7

Welcome and introductions    
09:30 – 10:00    Africa's right to health
Ingvar Ágúst Ingvarsson, IFPA
H. E. James Waweru, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Kenya to the UN in Geneva 
Pierre Celestin Habiyaremye, PsorAfrica

Plenary session    
10:00 – 12:00    Facing systemic challenges: access to medicines for psoriatic disease
Pierre Celestin Habiyaremye, Rwanda Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Organization, Rwanda
Melini Moses, South African Psoriasis Association, South Africa
Tina Ochsner, Psoriasis Association of Kenya
Dr. Edwin Kojo Ogara, WHO Kenya Country Office
Prof. Mahira El Sayed, Ain Shams University, Egypt
Dr. Priscilla Angwenyi, Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya
 
LUNCH   

Workshops    
13:00 – 15:00    Tools and Tactics: Advocacy for NCDs 
TBD, Psoriasis Association of Kenya
TBD, NCD Alliance Kenya

13:00 – 15:00    Breaking Barriers: Increasing diversity in clinical trials
Dr. Raquel Vaz, IFPA
Prof. Mahira El Sayed, Ain Shams University, Egypt

13:00 – 15:00    Reaching Rural Areas
Dr. Samson Kiprono, Moi University, Kenya
Dr. Doriane Sabushimike, Kamenge Military Hospital, Burundi
Dr. Yemsrach Abawaji, Menelik II Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia

BREAK    

Plenary session    
15:30 – 16:00    Summary of day 1    
Networking hour    
18:30 – 20:00    World Psoriasis Day reception    
 

Day 2 | May 8   

Plenary session
10:00 – 12:00    Young voices, stronger psoriatic disease systems
Guuled Mohamed, UNICEF Sweden
Jente Plu, Psoriasis Patients Netherlands
Shrestha Tiwari, India
Dev Hirani, UK/Kenya
Samantha Wood, Zimbabwe
Hellen Wangui, Psoriasis Association of Kenya
Abhinand Krishnashankar, India/USA

LUNCH

Workshops
13:00 – 15:00    Tools and Tactics: Youth engagement
Guuled Mohamed, UNICEF Sweden
Jente Plu, Psoriasis Patients Netherlands
Shrestha Tiwari, India

13:00 – 15:00    From Clinic to Community: Collaborating for psoriatic disease research
TBD, International Psoriasis Council

13:00 – 15:00    Turning Experience into Evidence: Using AI tools to conduct real-world data studies for advocacy
Martín Petrocco, AEPSO, Argentina

BREAK

Plenary session
15:30 – 16:00    Summary of day 2

Networking hour
 

Day 3 | May 9  

Plenary session
10:00 – 12:00    Our Collective Global Action: IFPA Updates
Board and secretariat, IFPA

LUNCH

Regional meetings    
13:00 – 15:30    Africa
Pierre Habiyaremye & Hellen Wangui

13:00 – 15:30    Americas
Martín Petrocco

13:00 – 15:30    Europe
Ingvar Ágúst Ingvarsson & Jaime Melancia

13:00 – 15:30    Asia Pacific
Paul Mendoza & Masanori Okuse, Asia Pacific Region

Plenary session    
15:30 – 16:00    Summary of day 3 and closing remarks    
Ingvar Ágúst Ingvarsson, IFPA
Frida Dunger, IFPA

Closing networking event