Lomé hosts 4th African Dermatology Symposium to address skin health

The 4th African Dermatology Symposium was held in Lomé, Togo, on September 14-15. Organized by the Pierre Fabre Foundation in collaboration with the Togolese Society of Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Infections (SOTODERM), the event brought together healthcare professionals, researchers, and institutions to address skin health challenges across Africa.

Discussions focused on improving dermatological care through South-South and South-North collaborations, clinical research, and digital innovations such as tele-expertise. The symposium aimed to strengthen local professional skills and establish a pan-African network for dermatology and dermatopathology.

In Togo, teledermatology is being utilized to address a significant specialist shortage, where only 24 dermatologists serve approximately eight million people. Since 2018, a partnership between SOTODERM and the Pierre Fabre Foundation has trained 202 health agents across 50 facilities in five regions. This initiative has facilitated over 51,000 consultations, using the Bogou tele-expertise platform to allow local providers to consult specialists on complex cases remotely.