The Pan African Wound Healing (PAWH) association will be launched in Tunis on Friday in the presence of the Minister of Health, Ali Mrabet. Fourteen African countries, represented by eminent professors in various fields, presidents of scientific societies and deans of medical faculties, will attend the inaugural meeting of this association, according to a statement from the association. The association was initiated by Professor Amen Allah Messaadi, Professor of Intensive Care Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine in Tunis and founder of the Burns Intensive Care Unit. PAWH aims to improve the quality of care for all types of wounds in Africa and to promote African expertise in wound care, burns and healing techniques. It will work to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration between health professionals and promote the training of health professionals through theoretical and practical training programmes on the latest therapeutic and technological advances, with the main aim of reducing disparities in woun d care, according to the same statement. The accredited course leads to certification and is open to Tunisian and African paramedical and medical staff. PAWH President Prof Amen Allah Messaadi said: "Our ambition is to invest in research and development because it is clear that as Africans, we must of course take advantage of the latest innovations and discoveries in wound care and healing. We also need to look seriously at medical research, both clinical and basic, to develop treatments that are adapted to our social context and health resources". He added: "We want to make medicine accessible to all patients, especially those with limited resources. The pan-African association also aims to develop and implement prevention programmes not only in its member countries, but across the continent, Messaadi said. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse