The WFN presents at the World Health Assembly, introduces new co-opted trustees, and welcomes World Brain Day 2026.
By Steven L. Lewis, MD
The World Federation of Neurology (WFN) is a federation of 126 neurological societies advocating for neurologists and neurological care globally. Our long-stated mission is “to foster quality neurology and brain health worldwide, a goal we seek to achieve by promoting global neurological education and training, with the emphasis placed firmly on underresourced parts of the world.”
On behalf of the WFN, I would like to welcome all neurologists and individuals interested in neurology and brain health to the June 2026 issue of World Neurology, the official WFN newsletter.
The WFN at the WHA
WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, a pivotal meeting place for the member states of the World Health Assembly.
As an official nonstate actor (NSA) of the World Health Organization (WHO), the WFN has the privilege and responsibility of helping represent the field of neurology, our patients, and brain health at the proceedings of the WHO.1
As president of the WFN, I presented several statements at the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA), which took place May 18-23, 2026, at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
As background, the WHA is attended by representatives of the health ministries from member states as well as NSAs such as the WFN. The WHA meeting agenda includes individual topic items for which specific times (typically several hours) are allocated. These agenda items are addressed first by the member state representatives. They are allowed up to two minutes per oral statement. Following these statements, the NSAs have an opportunity to provide oral statements (maximum one minute). These NSA (e.g. WFN) statements must be prepared, submitted, and accepted for presentation by the WHA before being placed on the agenda for presentation.
A meeting room at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, where the WHA agenda items were discussed and where the WFN presented its statements.
We are pleased to report that the WFN was approved to present four statements at the WHA in May, each related to a neurological/brain health aspect of the relevant WHA agenda item.
Our first statement pertained to the “Roadmap for Neglected Tropical Diseases 2021-2030” (WHO agenda item 12.3). In this statement, I stressed the importance of this WHO initiative, noting that neglected tropical diseases are “major drivers of neurologic morbidity and mortality, especially in low-income regions.” I also noted that “these diseases can severely affect brain health and mental health while carrying considerable stigma that isolates patients and delays care.”
The WFN also presented a second oral statement related to the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and the promotion of mental health (WHO agenda item 12.1). In this statement, I noted that recognition of the interconnectedness between NCDs, neurological conditions, and mental health is “crucial for developing strong health care systems prepared for prevention and treatment of these conditions.” I also noted that neurological disorders are the leading cause of overall global disease burden and disability and called for the “implementation of the Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders (IGAP) alongside measures against NCDs to protect brain health at all stages of life.”
Prof. Steven Lewis, WFN president, presenting the first of four oral statements on behalf of the WFN at the World Health Assembly.
The WFN also presented a third oral statement that dealt with universal health coverage and rare diseases (WHO agenda item 12.4). In this statement supporting the inclusion of rare diseases in universal health coverage, I had the opportunity to state that “rare neurological conditions have a very significant prevalence and create high economic burden.” I further explained that incorporating neurological rare diseases in universal health coverage frameworks will allow for earlier intervention, longer active lifespans for patients, preservation of dignity, and reduction of family and societal burdens. I also urged “member states to strive toward equitable access to genetic testing, novel therapies, and multidisciplinary management and rehabilitation for patients with rare diseases.” Finally, I noted that “as a society of neurology professionals, we believe ‘access for all’ is a prerequisite of humane and sustainable health care systems.”
For logistical reasons, a fourth statement from the WFN was presented by Dr. Gagandeep Singh. Dr. Singh spoke about primary health care and the international recruitment of health personnel (WHO agenda item 12.5) and the statement noted that “primary health care is crucial for timely diagnosis of potentially disabling conditions and indispensable for implementing prevention measures” and that the WFN urges “the implementation of the WHO IGAP to prepare primary health care frameworks to address the high prevalence of neurological conditions and comorbidities.”
Prof. Alla Guekht, president of the International League Against Epilepsy (and past WFN trustee), presenting an oral statement on behalf of the ILAE at the World Health Assembly in Geneva.
This WFN statement also noted that “the WFN is committed to supporting member states in raising workforce capacity, with an emphasis on underresourced parts of the world.” I want to sincerely thank Dr. Singh for providing this oral statement on behalf of the WFN.
I remain deeply thankful to Dr. Ksenia Pochigaeva, the co-chair of the WFN International Affairs/WHO Committee, and Prof. Alla Guekht, past WFN trustee and the current president of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), for their continuing mentorship, support, and 24/7 availability to help maneuver the necessary complex rules of the WHA. I’d also like to highlight Dr. Pochigaeva’s expert assistance in crafting our many statements as we diligently work together to help represent neurology in these important venues.
Presentation With OneNeurology During the WHA Week
In addition to the proceedings of the assembly, the week at the WHA in Geneva included official side events. The WFN was privileged to be invited to an event organized by OneNeurology along with its NSA partners MS International Federation, the International Bureau for Epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s Disease International, with support of the Italian Ministry of Health. In this event, titled “Delivering on Brain Health: Implementing IGAP and the Political Declaration on NCDs: OneNeurology Perspective,” I was privileged to present a talk titled “Global Status Report: Progress and Gaps.”
Meeting With WHO Brain Health Leadership
From left to right: Steven Lewis, Tarun Dua, Alla Guekht, Riadh Gouider, and Neerja Chowdhari at WHO headquarters.
During the WHA week in Geneva, we also met with Dr. Tarun Dua and Dr. Neerja Chowdhari from the Brain Unit, Health Department of NCDs and Mental Health at WHO headquarters. Our meeting included WFN First Vice President Prof. Riadh Gouider and Prof. Guekht.
We discussed mutual WFN/WHO initiatives, including the upcoming subregional workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This workshop will be aimed at strengthening understanding, implementation, and knowledge-sharing in East Africa on the IGAP. It will include government representatives, policymakers, health professionals, civil society, researchers, and people with lived experience from five Sub-Saharan African countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda).
New Co-Opted Trustees
The WFN trustees are pleased to announce the appointment of two co-opted trustees who joined the board over the last few months: Prof. Njideka Ulunma Okubadejo and Dr. Paola Guraieb Chahin.
Prof. Okubadejo is a medical researcher and the first female neurologist and tenured professor of neurology in Nigeria. After earning her medical degree from Obafemi Awolowo University (1983-1989), she completed residency training through the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, followed by clinical fellowships at Howard University and the Mayo Clinic. She currently serves as a professor of neurology at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and an honorary consultant neurologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
WFN trustees (top row, from left to right): Steven Lewis, WFN president; Riadh Gouider, WFN first vice president; Marianne de Visser, (acting) secretary general; Morris Freedman, treasurer. WFN elected trustees (bottom row, from left to right): Chandrashekhar Meshram, Mohammad Wasay, Tissa Wijeratne. WFN co-opted trustees: Njideka Ulunma Okubadejo, Paola Guraieb Chahin.
Internationally recognized for her work on neurodegenerative diseases, her research focuses primarily on the genetics and epidemiology of Parkinson’s disease in African populations. She is chair of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorders Society (MDS) Africa Section Steering Committee and campaigns extensively for public neurological health across West Africa. Before her appointment as a WFN co-opted trustee, she helped build a long-standing partnership between the African Academy of Neurology (AFAN) and the WFN, actively contributing to WFN-supported programs and educational initiatives to bridge the neurological care gap in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Dr. Guraieb Chahin is a neurologist from Mexico whose clinical experience focuses on neurodegenerative disorders, epilepsy, sleep conditions, clinical neurophysiology, and neuro-oncology. She graduated as a medical doctor from the Universidad Anáhuac and did postgraduate training at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) in internal medicine, neurology, and clinical neurophysiology. She primarily serves patients at the ABC Medical Center’s Observatorio campus in Mexico City. She has expanded her medical expertise internationally through fellowships, including at the Hospital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière in Paris, France.
An active researcher, her core expertise covers cognitive neurology, dementia prevention, Alzheimer’s disease, and the correlation between chronic sleep deprivation and cognitive decline. Prior to being named a co-opted trustee for the WFN, Dr. Chahin was already established as a prominent voice in Latin American neurology, actively contributing to the WFN’s advocacy and educational programs and other global initiatives within the Pan-American Federation of Neurological Societies (PAFNS) and the Mexican Academy of Neurology (Academia Mexicana de Neurologia).
Please join me in welcoming these two remarkable neurologists to the WFN Board. Their experiences, expertise, and thoughtful opinions and insights have already impacted our ongoing work at the WFN.
World Brain Day 2026
We’re only days away from World Brain Day 2026, which will take place July 22. The theme calls for “Brain Health: Access for All.” On behalf of the WFN and our member neurologic societies, and with appreciation of support from the six regional neurology associations (AFAN, AOAN, AAN, EAN, PAFNS, and PAUNS), we welcome participation in this important event from around the globe. For more information, please go to the World Brain Day page on the WFN website, which includes links to the World Brain Day toolkit and the World Brain Day webinar.
We look forward to many illustrated articles on World Brain Day 2026 events and celebrations from around the world for the next issue of World Neurology.
Upcoming Events
Finally, this column is being written from Cape Town, South Africa, during our team’s site visit for the 2027 World Congress of Neurology. The city, venue, and attractions are beautiful and exciting, and the developing Congress Scientific and Teaching Course Program are proceeding nicely. Please mark your calendars for this event, which will take place Oct. 23-25, 2027.
Also don’t forget to register for the World Federation of Neurology Digital Update Course, happening Oct. 28-29, 2026. This year, 13 world-class speakers will provide state-of-the-art updates on major fields of neurology. We look forward to seeing you at these events. !
References:
-
Guekht A, Pochigaeva K, Freedman M, et al. The World Federation of Neurology and its global engagement with the World Health Organization and the United Nations economic and social council. J Neurol Sci. 2026;480:125708. PMID: 41455678.
