End-of-Year Message from Angela Migowa, President of PAFLAR

Dear All, 

🎉 “Stronger Together for a Better Future” – This year, we lived and breathed this mantra, and the results have been nothing short of transformational. 

As I reflect on my tenure as President of PAFLAR, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude. Together, we have accomplished milestones that once seemed like dreams: 

The launch of our PAFLAR JIA Registry and the groundbreaking Therapeutic Patient Education (TPE) initiative. By using play, games, and child-friendly tools, we’ve empowered children with arthritis and their families with knowledge and confidence to navigate their journey. 

🌍 The 4th PAFLAR Hybrid Congress, held in the vibrant city of Tunis, broke barriers and united professionals and stakeholders under the theme: "Pioneering Early Diagnosis, Empowering the Future.” 

📚 Our educational webinars reached over 4,000 participants, while advocacy days and patient-focused materials strengthened our mission of patient-centered care. 

Through innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration, we’ve proven that when we focus on the goal, no challenge is insurmountable. 

As we step into 2025, I encourage us all to embrace change, foster partnerships, and continue advancing access to quality care for children with Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMDs). As Socrates said, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”

Let’s build systems that promote equity, strengthen our networks, and amplify the African story of pediatric rheumatology. Together, we are unstoppable! 

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2025 filled with hope, health, and success. Let’s continue to champion change, inspire innovation, and work as one. 

With gratitude and optimism, 

Dr. Angela Migowa

President, PAFLAR