Dermatology

— filling the care deficit —

Train health professionals, develop diagnosis and participate in prevention of social and health risks for people with albinism : the Pierre Fabre Foundation contributes to filling the gap for the management of skin diseases in Africa.
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Skin diseases are among the first reasons people seek medical consultation in emerging countries, but they are difficult to treat due to the lack of medicalstaff training in peripheral health centres in these “non-priority” pathologies, the complications of which can nevertheless be severe if not promptly treated. For example, impetigo can lead to kidney failure.

This challenge is coupled with a marked lack of dermatologists, forcing patients to make long and expensive trips to seek medical advice in major urban areas. These ailments, the leading reasons behind medical consultations, are often treated in peripheral centres that suffer from a severe lack of specialists and personnel little-trained in non-priority diseases. This situation is of great concern, especially as the populations have a genuine need.

These circumstances led the Fondation Pierre Fabre to invest in the field of teledermatology with a twofold commitment: training healthcare workers to treat the most common diseases and providing the technical capacities needed to entrust the more difficult cases to specialists.

At the same time, the Foundation works to prevent and manage the social and health risks of people with albinism, a population that is particularly exposed to the risk of skin cancers and that also suffers from ophthalmic problems that compromise their access to education and their economic integration. The Pierre Fabre Foundation’s activities in favour of people with albinism are structured in a global approach that goes beyond the medical aspects and covers psychosocial support for patients and information for the population.

The projects supported by the Foundation include a component on the local production of sun protection ointment, whose formula was developed pro bono by Pierre Fabre Laboratories and specifically adapted to the context of sub-Saharan Africa.

Dr. Mariem Kebe Dermato-allergologue et secrétaire générale de la Société Mauritanienne de Dermatologie (SMD)

Providing a high-quality medical service to population groups who would otherwise have nothing at all.”

Dr. Mariem KEBE
Skin allergy specialist and General Secretary of the Mauritanian Society of Dermatology (SMD).

Follow our action

Albinism awareness toolkit now available online

24/06/2025|

As part of the APPASAAS project, the Fondation Pierre Fabre is deploying various activities to strengthen the dissemination of verified educational information aimed at improving the protection, inclusion and referral of people with albinism to appropriate care structures.

Call for projects 2025 Support Fund for Associations of Persons with Abinism

19/05/2025|

To further its commitment to persons with albinism, the Fondation Pierre Fabre is launching a Support Fund for associations of persons with albinism and nonprofit organizations working on their behalf. This Call for Projects 2025 aims to support initiatives (project, activities, event) whose primary objective is to improve the health, rights or living conditions of persons with albinism in low- and middle-income countries.

Albinism in Africa: 18 months of mobilization with the APPASAAS project

12/05/2025|

Officially launched in October 2023 following co-funding approval from the French Development Agency, the project to improve protection, prevention and access to healthcare for people living with albinism in sub-Saharan Africa (APPASAAS) is continuing its roll-out in Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Niger, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.