Morocco was elected, on December 7, in the person of Professor Najia El Abbadi, at the head of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies on the sidelines of the 18th World Congress of Neurosurgery which is being held from December 4 to 8 in Cape Town.
Thanks to this election, Professor El Abbadi becomes the first woman in the world, as well as the first African and Arab woman to assume this prestigious responsibility.
The presidential medal was presented to Professor El Abbadi by the federation’s outgoing American president, Professor Nelson Oyeshiku, during the handover ceremony.
In a statement to Maghreb Arab Presse (MAP), El Abbadi underlined her commitment to improving neurosurgical practices during her mandate, particularly in low and middle-income countries.
“Our strategy is based on transparent and brotherly international collaboration developed by a multinational team from the United States, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Croatia, and Ukraine, under Morocco’s presidency,” noted El Abbadi.
Speaking before the Executive Committee on this occasion, Morocco’s Ambassador to the United States, Youssef Amrani, praised El Abbadi’s accession to presidency, welcoming this election which is a distinction for Morocco, Africa, and the Arab world, a push for female Moroccan, African and Arab leaders in a crucial sector such as medicine.
“This international confidence also confirms Morocco’s ambitious health development policy, developed under the Enlightened Leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI,” concluded the Moroccan official.
The World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies represents more than 137 scientific associations and 40,000 neurosurgeons from all over the world.