Community and Family Aid Foundation Ghana Participates in Global Allergy and Airways Summit in Barcelona
The Community and Family Aid Foundation-Ghana has participated in the 2026 GAAPP Summit and Annual General Meeting held in Barcelona, Spain, from September 3 to 4, 2026.
The hybrid event, hosted by the Global Allergy & Airways Patient Platform (GAAPP), brought together patient leaders and representatives from across the world to deliberate on the future of advocacy for respiratory, skin and allergic diseases.
Representing Ghana at the summit was the Foundation’s Country Director, Ms. Florence Agyemang Mensah.
The two-day summit provided a platform for global patient organisations to exchange ideas, strengthen advocacy skills and contribute to discussions on international health policies affecting people living with chronic respiratory, allergic and skin conditions.
A key component of the gathering was the member-exclusive Annual General Meeting, during which GAAPP conducted elections to strengthen its regional leadership.
Migdalia Denis, PhD (h.c.), was re-elected as the Latin America (SAREAL) Regional Alliance Leader, while Dr. Vũ Trần Thiên Quân retained the position of APAC Regional Alliance Leader.
Prof. Víctor Wutor was also elected as the new AMEA (Africa and Middle East) Regional Alliance Leader.
The summit also focused on major global health policy initiatives, including the World Health Assembly Lung Health Resolution and United Nations Political Declarations, with participants examining how international commitments could translate into meaningful action at the national level.
The closing session featured a keynote address by José Luis Castro, Director-General Special Envoy for Chronic Respiratory Diseases, who challenged patient organisations to move beyond global resolutions and develop practical national action plans that respond to the needs of affected communities.
Participants also took part in interactive capacity-building sessions on GAAPP’s four key pillars—Awareness, Education, Advocacy and Research.
Another major feature was the “Shark Tank” problem-solving session, which gave patient organisations an opportunity to present challenges and explore innovative solutions to strengthen their work.
The Community and Family Aid Foundation-Ghana says the participation will help strengthen its programmes and interventions in Ghana.
The Foundation said it looks forward to integrating key decisions and lessons from the AGM into its programmes, particularly in line with the collaborative and collective decisions reached by members.
The Foundation believes that stronger collaboration among patient organisations, policymakers and other stakeholders is critical to improving health outcomes and ensuring that the voices of people living with respiratory, allergic and skin conditions are reflected in national and global health policies.