ABOUT MECFA
The Middle East Cystic Fibrosis Association (MECFA) is a nonprofit organization registered in Massachusetts, USA, working to improve health outcomes and life expectancy for people with cystic fibrosis in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia.
MECFA is a member country association, built around a network of clinicians delivering CF care inside MECFA member countries. MECFA’s model is designed for state funded or public institutions integrated into state health systems and focuses on interventions that are scalable, affordable, and sustainable at a national level.
OUR MISSION:
The MECFA mission is to improve the health outcomes of cystic fibrosis patients in the Middle East.
VISION:
All patients born with cystic fibrosis living in the Middle East and surrounding countries are diagnosed early and have access to quality care, medication, and equipment that extends their life expectancy and quality of life.
MEMBERS
Are you interested in becoming a MECFA Member? Learn how
Our Core Activities
1
Early and accurate diagnosis
MECFA invests first in diagnostics because health systems cannot support what they cannot see. If CF patients are not diagnosed, recorded, and counted, CF cannot become a policy or funding priority. Recently we have increased our diagnostic program to include genetic testing to ensure eligible patients can assess modulator therapies when available.
2
Developing CF Centers and CF specialist teams
MECFA does not focus on training one expert. We build multidisciplinary teams and strengthen CF centers of care through:
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bootcamps and intensive clinical team training
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structured mentorship and follow-up
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such as BMI and FEV1 improvement focused on measurable outcomes quality improvement (QI) projects
MECFA training is deliberately hands on and system relevant, including the Marmara based CF course model with ongoing follow-up guidance.
3
Advocate for patients access to therapies and care
Even strong clinical teams cannot scale care without MOH decisions. MECFA’s advocacy strategy directly targets national systems and state procurement pathways.
MECFA advocacy work includes:
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MOH engagement and policy negotiations
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consistent messaging and evidence packages
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coalition and stakeholder work
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structured national asks for essential medicines and services
This is not optional, it is how CF becomes funded and available nationwide.