Dermatology societies in Africa: perspective from Angola

Fifty years after the country's independence, the Angolan Association of Dermatology and Venereology (AADV) was effectively instituted in Luanda on July 15 th , 2025, opening a new page in the development of the discipline.Dermatology is progressively emerging in Angola as a well-recognized medical specialty 1,2 : the Angolan College of Dermatology and Venereology was created in 2009 under the umbrella of the Medical Order, with a focus on the residency training program, ethics, deontology, and the suitability of dermatologists' professional qualifications; pending the creation of a professional society, the college was also assigned some functions typically performed by medical societies, such as continuing medical education.AADV's mission is now to advance advocacy on skin and hair diseases, continuing education, clinical care, investigations, and to stimulate collaboration with other national and international societies, partner institutions, and industry. Challenges faced by Sub-Saharan African (SSA) societies of dermatologyDespite their significant burden, there is low awareness of skin conditions among health workers and the general public.Weak surveillance systems further mask their true public health impact, and health