Mr Wai told this medium that the meeting, held under the theme "Together for Health; Stand with Science", further enriched his knowledge of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tackling issues in respiratory immunology care, as well as effective advocacy.
He said the meeting brought together patient advocates, clinicians, and regional stakeholders to tackle the growing burden of asthma, COPD, and other allergies, airways, skin, and immunological diseases across Africa and the Middle East.
stated“Sessions at the meeting covered the regional disease landscape, patient advocacy challenges, youth engagement, digital campaigning, fundraising and sustainability, and the WHA lung, skin, and rare disease resolutions,” he further.
“Experts like Dr Catherine Karakezi and Dr Evelyn Nga'nga handled sessions on how to partner with governments while youth leader Vincent Mugwati dwelled on elevating the next generation's role in health advocacy and addressing climate-driven health impacts.”
The AAFWA president disclosed that participants also learnt how to tell their stories louder through digital advocacy by utilising social media and artificial intelligence as well as how to move beyond "one-off" grants by developing frameworks to translate World Health Assembly (WHA) resolutions into national-level action, improving health technology assessments (HTA), and shifting towards long-term organisational sustainability.
Mr Wai expressed profound gratitude to GAAPP for sponsoring the meeting. He also appreciated GAAPP for its collaboration with AAFWA and a partial sponsor of several projects that have remarkably improved the wellbeing of asthma patients in The Gambia.
“We express our deepest gratitude to GAAPP for their generous sponsorship of our projects and others in The Globe. Their vital support provided succour for asthma patients, improved community wellness, and transformed countless lives, leaving a lasting legacy of health and hope that we will always cherish,” he added.
Mr Wai also acknowledged AAFWA’s local corporate partners -DHK Global Trading and Kaira Consultancy, thanking them for their collaboration with AAFWA.
