Building the framework for Pediatric Rheumatology in Africa since 1989.
Evolution of AFLAR & PAFLAR
The inaugural meeting of the African League Against Rheumatism (AFLAR )was held in 1989.
The first AFLAR congress was held in Egypt in 1991 and subsequent congresses have been held in Tunis,
Tunisia (1995); Cape Town, South Africa (1999); Rabat, Morocco (2003); Nairobi, Kenya (2007) ; Algiers, Algeria (2011);
Cape Town, South Africa (2013); and Mauritius in 2019.
The foundation work by the members of AFLAR have made it possible to launch efforts towards establishment
of the Pediatric arm of AFLAR (PAFLAR).
Africa is known to have diversity in culture. This diversity percolates through all facets
including the clinical symptomatology of patients, clinico-epidemiological profiles and response to
therapy for many diseases. Pediatric Rheumatology is no exception to this. This offers a unique opportunity for
clinicians in the continent who treat children with Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMDs)
to pull their resources and skills together to come up with strategies to improve the outcomes for our patients.
The Core Mandate
In light of the above, under the leadership of AFLAR, a taskforce was appointed to establish the
Pediatric arm of AFLAR at the AFLAR Scientific Congress held in Mauritius September 2019. Its core
mandate is to establish the structural frameworks for its operations and formulate a strategic plan
to promote a world where children with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases have the same and optimal
chance to live, grow and develop like their other normal counterparts. This can be achieved through effective
strategies and programs that impact on the well-being of African children with rheumatic
and musculoskeletal diseases through advocacy and enactment of policies adapted to the specificity of the African continent.
Through the support of AFLAR, an online survey among rheumatologists
in Africa was carried out to come up with the key priority areas which
were delineated as:
Strategic Priority Areas
01. Awareness
Raising awareness among medical students, residents and healthcare workers.
02. Registry
Establishment of an African Pediatric Rheumatology Registry.
03. Policy & Planning
Prioritize the pediatric rheumatological diseases in healthcare planning.
04. Collaboration
Collaborate with international pediatric rheumatology organizations.
05. Clinical Care
Establish clinical and community based care.
06. Guidelines
Establishing management guidelines.
07. Specialist Training
Establishing specialist training units for pediatric rheumatologists.
08. Research
Research.
09. Mentorship
Mentorship of pediatric rheumatology research fellows in Africa.
In order to tackle the above priority areas, plans are underway to begin online discussions to
regularly discuss pediatric rheumatology cases across Africa. This e-learning project aims at
empowering clinicians to care for children with RMDs on the continent. Participation in some of
the global advocacy campaigns such as WORD day celebrations has increased in the continent. Members
of the pediatric arm of AFLAR core working task force group African League Against Rheumatism (PAFLAR)
committee have participated in regional meetings held to raise awareness for RMDs such as the University
of Cape Town refresher course. Other regional meetings across Africa are scheduled for later in the year.
The official launch of PAFLAR’s strategic plan is scheduled for 2021 during the AFLAR scientific conference
scheduled to be held in Kenya 2021.
We hope that this will lay the framework for the growth of pediatric rheumatology in Africa.
