From Meryam Jennane, Secretary, HAE Morocco

Uniting for change: Building bridges for HAE patients in Morocco
Promising progress is currently underway for the Moroccan HAE community, thanks to the commitment of local advocates and meaningful international partnerships.

We are currently developing a brand-new website, which represents the first major step toward building a stronger national presence and providing better access to information. The website will be hosted by HAEi, with technical support from their developers and IT specialists, and built in close collaboration with our regional patient advocate, Ms. Maria Ferron, as well as Ms. Meryam Jennane and Mr. Imad El Aouni, respectively Secretary and President of the Moroccan organization – Association Marocaine des Malades d’Angio-Oedeme (AMMAO). It will feature essential resources in Arabic, English, and French to serve patients, families, and healthcare providers across the country.

Following this, we aim to become more active on social media to raise awareness, share patient experiences, and foster a more connected and informed community.

We also translated key HAE guidelines into French to ensure that patients throughout Morocco and Francophone Africa have access to clear, reliable information. These translated materials are being reviewed by Prof Bouillet (National coordinator of the Angioedema Reference Center – CREAK) to guarantee quality and alignment with international best practices.

As part of our commitment to early diagnosis and access to care, AMMAO is collaborating with Ms. Hajar Kalil, a Moroccan PhD student, who is conducting her thesis on HAE in collaboration with Dr Khadija Moussayer, board member of the Moroccan Association. Together, we are offering free C1 Inhibitor testing for a group of patients, helping to uncover undiagnosed cases and connect families with appropriate treatment pathways.

In another exciting development, we are working in partnership with South African researchers and a local Moroccan laboratory, the “Centre de Biologie de Casablanca”, led by Dr Hicham Ouazzani, to offer free genetic testing for the first time in Morocco. This project represents a major step forward in confirming diagnoses and expanding access to personalized care.

These ongoing efforts reflect a united movement toward greater visibility, stronger support systems, and improved care for HAE patients in Morocco — and this is just the beginning.