Updates on multiple sclerosis, stroke, and more.
By Aussan Al-Athwari, MD
More than 400 people attended the first Aden International Neurology Conference in Aden, Yemen.
The first Aden International Neurology Conference (ANC) brought together over 400 researchers, physicians, and experts in neurology, neurosurgery, internal medicine, radiology, psychiatry, and pediatrics to discuss updates in the field of neurology at the Crown Resort in Aden, Yemen.
The conference, which was held Dec. 18-19, 2024, was organized by the Aden Neurology Advisory Board (ANAB). Prof. Riadh Gouider, co-chair of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) Education Committee, attended the opening ceremony and presented a report on the latest guidelines from the Middle East North Africa Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (MENACTRIMS).
Prof. Steven Lewis, WFN secretary general, Prof. Hatem Samir, Egyptian Society for Neurologic, Psychiatric, and Neurosurgery (ESNPN) general secretary, and Prof. Hesham Masoud, associate professor of neurology and neurosurgery at the State University of New York’s Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, participated via Zoom.
The Yemen Neuroscience Society (YNS), a WFN member, is located in the capital city of Sanaa. Because of the ongoing political crisis in Yemen, the scientific activities are being held in Aden. ANAB has initiated activities for the international days of stroke, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. It also organized the first ANC.
The ANAB members are Dr. Abdullah Al-Qadhi, conference president, Dr. Mohammed Taher, treasurer, Dr. Aussan Al-Athwari, conference coordinator, Dr. Nagween Magharef, and Dr. Addul-Rakeeb Alhakimy.
Prof. Riadh Gouider.
The pre-conference workshop focused on clinical neurophysiology, interventional neurology (carotid artery stenting and thrombectomy), ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin injection in post-stroke spasticity, and focal dystonia. The fields of interventional neurology and neurosonology were launched last year in Aden by Dr. Al-Athwari, who was trained in Egypt. The first cerebral angiography was conducted Feb. 13, 2023.
The conference underscored the urgency of accelerating the transition to modern neurology education and adopting acute stroke care policies. It was widely agreed that collaboration across all medical specialities and the YNS is essential to achieving the goals of the World Stroke Organization (WSO) and WFN. Participants also highlighted the importance of policy frameworks that support research and development in neuroscience.
Organizing the first ANC was an invaluable experience. It not only broadened our understanding of the latest advancements in neurology, but also deepened our appreciation for the complexity of global education challenges. We look forward to applying our best knowledge and making use of the support we receive from our professors in Egypt, Tunisia, and all over the world via WFN. •
Prof. Aussan Al-Athwari is a neurologist and neurointerventionist in Yemen, director of the Yemen Comprehensive Stroke Center, and coordinator of the Aden conference.
