The overarching goal of the Steatotic Liver Diseases Study Foundation in Middle East and North Africa (SLMENA) is to harness resources and expertise across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA region) to study different aspects and current local challenges in steatotic liver diseases (SLD). 

The prevalence of SLD in the MENA region is increasing in parallel to an increase in the prevalence of associated risk factors such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. SLD thus causes a substantial burden on the healthcare systems, and it is imperative that appropriate strategies are to be implemented at a regional level to facilitate effective management tailored to the needs of the MENA region. 

SLMENA includes a group of experts from different specialties: hepatology, gastroenterology, epidemiology, and endocrinology from most of MENA region countries. All those experts came together in SELMENA, to discuss and address current local challenges in SLD screening and diagnosis, and the different available management options, in collaboration with local scientific societies in member countries.