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ALLSA

About

ALLSA is the national Allergy Society of South Africa representing all related allied health professionals. The purpose of ALLSA is to advance the knowledge and practice of allergy and immunology through publications, meetings, and conferences and to foster the education of both students and the public.

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History:

The Allergy Society of South Africa (ALLSA) was founded in 1988.

ALLSA is primarily a professional society for medical practitioners and other allied health care workers and scientists involved in the research, diagnosis, treatment and management of allergic diseases.

ALLSA has taken responsibility to inform and educate the healthcare professionals regarding the optimal management of allergic disorders. Patient education is undertaken through our foundation.

 (AFSA may be found at  https://www.allergyfoundation.co.za/ )

The concept of ALLSA was proposed in 1987, after participation of the founding members at the European Academy of Allergy & Clinical Immunology meeting in Budapest, in April 1986. It was decided to form a national society, in line with similar societies in other countries. The first chairman was Professor Eugene Weinberg.

The first activity was the inaugural national congress held in Johannesburg in May 1998, which coincided with the launch of the society’s professional medical journal, Current Allergy. The name of this very successful publication was later changed to Current Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The founding editor was Professor Paul Potter.

The Aims of ALLSA

  • To promote the highest possible standard amongst health care professionals engaged in the practice of allergy in the best tradition of medicine and medical ethics.
  • To advance and encourage the study of allergy and clinical immunology, and to provide and distribute information of importance to the practice of clinical allergy and immunology.
  • To convene regular scientific meetings. These should be aimed at updating all delegates involved in the practice of allergy. These meetings will also act as a platform for the presentation of scientific papers of importance to the practice of allergy.
  • The Diploma in Allergy was established in 2003 by the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) under the college of Family Physicians.
  • In 2015 CMSA offered the first examination for the Certificate in Allergology as a subspeciality under the colleges of paediatrics, internal medicine and family medicine.

Allergy and Inborn Errors of Immunity (previously known as Primary Immunodeficiency) encompass a range of clinical conditions targeting various organ systems (lungs, nose, skin, and gastro-intestinal tract), in both children and adults, thus patients are best managed by a team of medical practitioners.

ALLSA works closely with other professional medical societies with overlapping interests in Allergy, this includes the co-hosting of joint meetings, congresses & workshops.

ALLSA is engaged in cooperating with organisations and doctors in neighbouring countries, aiding them in their own development.

ALLSA is affiliated to the international umbrella organisations of other allergy societies. Paid members of ALLSA enjoy membership to WAO. (World Allergy Organisation)

Ordinary membership of ALLSA is open to registered medical practitioners, registered health care professionals, students and scientists engaged in research or teaching of allergy and/or clinical immunology, as well as persons who could forward the aims of the Society.

Members of the public may not become members, but are encouraged to visit our AFSA site.

ALLSA organises a large and prestigious 2–3-day medical congress with venues and medical themes that change from meeting to meeting.

Training courses for physicians to prepare for the Diploma in Allergology and to assist with CPD validation (continuous professional development) may also be convened by ALLSA and/or AFSA.

ALLSA has produced a Handbook of Practical Allergy for paid up society members which is updated regularly.

Journal

One of the major contributions of ALLSA is the journal “Current Allergy and Clinical Immunology”.

The journal is published four times a year and contains a wide range of medical and scientific articles, congress reviews and previews, medical news items and pharmaceutical company news. Paid members receive CPD points for completing questionnaires in the journal.

Last updated March 2025

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