Senegal hosted the Congress of the West African College of Physicians (COAM) for the second time, after 2017, focusing on the theme of "sustainable health and the fight against non-communicable diseases." And, according to Abdou Kane, president of the Senegalese section, this was the first time that all ECOWAS member states participated, including Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde.

“COAM is considered the ECOWAS of doctors. It brings together specialists and biologists from all the countries of the ECOWAS region. This meeting provided an opportunity to discuss chronic and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular, kidney and noise-related diseases. Artificial intelligence and women’s health were also central to the discussions, notably with a pioneering exhibition in tribute to women,” he declared this Wednesday at the Grand Théâtre, during the 49th Annual General and Scientific Meeting (AGSM).

On an institutional level, the scientist noted that several hundred new specialists were sworn in in Dakar, thus enriching the sub-region with new medical expertise. Another "important" element, according to him, was that participants discussed appropriate management strategies for chronic diseases, as well as for emergency situations, particularly epidemics and endemic diseases such as COPD.

"The scientific program was particularly rich, with 45 high-level conferences led by seniors, academics, members of civil society, and figures from international organizations. In parallel, 150 oral presentations were given by research teams from across the ECOWAS region after a rigorous selection process," he said.

Professor Kane emphasized the importance of multidisciplinarity in medicine. "Each specialty must deepen its knowledge, but it is essential to communicate together. Blood diseases, kidney infections, and cancer are cross-cutting and affect all patients. These exchanges allow for coordinated care informed by scientific data," he stressed.