The Allergy Society of South Africa

The Allergy Society of South Africa

The Concept


The Allergy Society of South Africa is primarily a professional society for medical practitioners who are involved in the research, diagnosis, treatment and management of allergic diseases and allergic patients.

In addition, ALLSA is assuming an ever-increasing responsibility to inform and educate allergic patients and members of the public regarding allergic diseases and their optimal management.

The concept of ALLSA was proposed back in 1987. After participating at the European Academy of Allergy & Clinical Immunology meeting in Budapest Hungary, it was decided at an impromptu meeting of various South African doctors to form a national professional medical society, in line with the existence of similar medical societies in many other countries.

The first activity was the inaugural congress of ALLSA held in Johannesburg in May 1988, which coincided with the launch of the societyпїЅs professional medical journal пїЅCurrent AllergyпїЅ.

The aims of ALLSA are:

1. To promote the highest possible standards among those medical practitioners engaged in the practise of allergy, in the best traditions of medicine and medical ethics.
2. To advance and encourage the study of allergy and clinical immunology, and to provide and/or distribute information of importance to the practise of clinical allergy.
3. To convene scientific meetings designed to update clinicians and paramedical professionals involved in the practise of allergy, and as a forum for the presentation of scientific papers of importance to the practise of allergy.
4. To work towards the recognition of allergy as a specialised branch of medicine in South Africa.

In the past 13 years ALLSA has made enormous strides towards the achievement of these goals.

Allergy encompasses a broad range of clinical conditions that can affect various organ systems, such as the asthma of the lungs, rhinitis of the nose, eczema of the skin, or problems with the gastro-intestinal tract, of both children and adults. As allergy encompasses such a broad range of clinical conditions, allergic patients can be managed by a wide range of medical practitioners, such as specialists for paediatrics, pulmonology, dermatology, Ear, Nose & Throat, Gastro-Enterologists, Dietitians, Nurses, etc. There has therefore always been a need to involve all these various types of medical practitioners in the activities of ALLSA.

Executive Committee Members

ALLSA is managed by an Executive Committee of 10 persons, of whom nine are prominent medical specialists from around South Africa, each a medical opinion leader in their own particular field of expertise. The Committee is elected by the (currently) 900 members, every three years. Executive Committee members choose their own senior office bearers (Chairman, Honorary Secretary and Treasurer), and each member is responsible for one or more formal portfolios.

In addition to the central ExCom, ALLSA management includes a structure of Regional Coordinators for the various geographical regions of South Africa, who work to develop local regional activities such as Workshops, lectures, journal clubs, and similar.

There are also three affiliate organisations of medical professionals that have specific tasks and other responsibilities, such as the formulation of recommended practices, etc.

For this reason, ALLSA co-operates with various other professional medical societies, such as for Paediatrics, or Ear, Nose & Throat, or Immunology, of Pulmonology, including joint meetings and congresses and workshops.

ALLSA is also closely engaged in cooperation with similar organisations in the neighbouring countries, and individual doctors in other countries, aiding and assisting them in their own development.

ALLSA is also affiliated to the International umbrella organisation of national allergy societies.

ALLSA Membership

Ordinary Membership of ALLSA is open to all registered medical practitioners, registered health professionals and scientists engaged in research or teaching of allergy and/or clinical immunology. Persons who could aid the aims of the Society, but do not fulfil the ordinary membership criteria, can apply for affiliated membership. The vast majority of members of ALLSA are medical practitioners in South Africa but there are a number of prominent international medical specialists whose support and endorsement we treasure. There is a membership fee of R100,00 per annum. Members of the public may not become members but are nonetheless welcome to prevail themselves of the services offered by the society.

ALLSA has a fully functional office based in Cape Town, with a part-time secretary and other ad hoc staff.

ALLSA Resource Centre

The ALLSA Resource Centre fulfils not just the administrative functions of the society, but also has a range of services available for paid-up professional members. These services include a library for journals, tapes, video-tapes, slides, books and allergy information brochures on various topics. In addition, ALLSA organise a large and prestigious 4-5 day medical congress once every two years, with venues and medical themes that change from occasion to occasion. Each alternate year ALLSA holds one or more smaller 2-3 day Workshops, again at different venues and on different themes. In addition, the ALLSA Regional Co-ordinators arrange their own local activities for medical professionals.

ALLSA Handbook

ALLSA has produced a Handbook of Practical Allergy for members. The second edition is due for release at the beginning of 2001. There are also several other professional medical books and booklets.

ALLSA Diploma Course

ALLSA is currently actively developing a Diploma Course in Allergology for existing medical practitioners. This is intended for doctors interested in improving their knowledge of optimal allergy management, and acquiring a formally recognised qualification to acknowledge this training and experience. This is expected to be operational during 2002.

ALLSA Journal

One of the major features of ALLSA is the journal пїЅCurrent Allergy and Clinical ImmunologyпїЅ. The journal, now in itпїЅs 14th year of publication, is published 4 times a year and contains a wide range of medical and scientific feature articles, editorial articles, congress reviews and previews, medical news items and pharmaceutical company news. Distribution is to over 5,300 recipients among the medical and allied professions, to members and non-members.

The Lay Public

For the lay public offer a range of services, the purpose of which is to provide good medical information and knowledge to aid the patient in the management of their allergic condition.

This is achieved through several different pathways.

1. Information to journalists of the lay press and semi-medical or health orientated journals, magazines and radio & TV programs.
2. The availability of Patient Information Sheets on various topics; examples are Mould allergy, Pollen allergy, Pet allergy, Allergic reactions to Honeybee sting, Housedust Mite Allergy, Vacuuming and Allergy Control, Urticaria and Angioedema, Cockroach Allergy, Food Allergy, Peanut Allergy, Latex Allergy, Fish Allergy, Contact Dermatitis, Allergic Eczema, Anaphylaxis, Drug Allergy, Egg Allergy and others. This list is being extended continually.
3. ALLSA is also on the Internet with an address of https://www.allergysa.org
4. ALLSA can be contacted for general advice and recommendations, by postal letter or by telefax or by phone call or e-mail.

Funding

ALLSA is very active in the promotion of research and particularly applied research in allergy. A dedicated committee oversee the allocation of funds and grants and other support to the many requests for such funding.

ALLSA itself is funded primarily through the healthcare industry, with pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies providing dedicated funds for investment in Research, and for sponsorship and advertising in the journal Current Allergy, and for participating in trade exhibitions at the various congresses and workshops and other meetings, and sponsorship of various individual publications.

More Information

For more information on ALLSA and how we can help you, contact the ALLSA Resource Centre at tel. (021) 4479-019, or telefax (021) 448-0846, or e-mail [email protected], or write to the ALLSA Resource Centre, PO Box 88, Observatory, 7935 with an S.A.E.

Copyright: Allergy Society of South Africa 1993

This information sheet is freely available from:

ALLSA P.O. Box 88 Observatory, 7935 Cape Town, R.S.A.

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