29 October is World Psoriasis Day. Its primary purpose is to act as
a focus for people - patients, doctors, nurses and the general
public - to raise awareness of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis
and to give people with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis the
attention and consideration they deserve. World Psoriasis Day (WPD)
is also useful as a channel to encourage health authorities to
offer better access to the most appropriate treatments.
Raise awareness about psoriasis
World Psoriasis Day communication and activities should for example
explain that psoriasis is a non contagious skin condition that can
affect anybody and that people with psoriasis are really no
different inside from anyone else. The World Psoriasis Day project
should also aim to dispel myths about the condition.
Encourage healthcare decision makers
Encourage healthcare decision makers to give psoriasis
suffers better access to the most appropriate therapies for their
condition: World Psoriasis Day should aim to encourage healthcare
decision makers for example governments, physicians, carers and all
those responsible for psoriasis care/ medicines to allow psoriasis
sufferers access to all the most appropriate therapies. For too
long psoriasis has not been seen as a priority with patients not
always getting access to the most appropriate treatment for their
condition.
Deliver knowledge to interested parties
World Psoriasis Day should aim to provide information and
knowledge to those who are affected by psoriasis/ psoriatic
arthritis as well as the general public, in order that people can
be better informed about the condition, develop a better
understanding, enabling them to be more confident to speak about
it.
Provide a patient voice platform
World Psoriasis Day should provide a platform from which
the 'patient voice' can be heard and from which people with
psoriasis can be encouraged to speak out about their needs and
wants.
Read more about World Psoriasis Day
Anyone who wants to help improve public understanding of psoriasis
can get involved. National psoriasis associations from various
countries are currently planning and organizing local events,
activities and initiatives in support of World Psoriasis Day. The
full list of all the activities that has been taking place around
the world can be viewed on the WPD activities page.
