Put psoriasis on the agenda now!

More than 125 million people all over the world have psoriasis. Many of them suffer needlessly, due to lack of understanding, lack of correct diagnosis and lack of treatment. Psoriasis needs to be put on the global and national health agendas now!

Psoriasis is a serious, inflammatory, noncommunicable disease, associated with an increased risk of developing severe co-morbid conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and psoriatic arthritis, as well as depression and even suicidal ideation.[i] But yet there is a lack of recognition in many parts of the world for the seriousness, and severity, of psoriasis. In many countries, even getting the correct diagnosis can be a great difficulty.
Dr Hoseah Waweru, Dermatologist and Vice President of IFPA states:
“In Kenya there are thirty dermatologists to a population of forty million. Most people with psoriasis will never see a dermatologist in their lives.”

Psoriasis must be recognized as the serious disease it is
Psoriasis affects men and women of all countries and regions, it knows no borders. That is why it is imperative that the world’s leading health organization, WHO, recognizes psoriasis as the serious disease it is. Kathleen Gallant, Secretary of IFPA and Chair of IFPA’s Task Force on NCDs, highlights the importance of this:
“All national health authorities need to be made aware of the physical, emotional and socioeconomic impacts of psoriasis, and include psoriasis in the public health agenda.”
By providing access to effective treatments, and by educating the medical professionals on how to correctly diagnose and treat psoriasis, a huge burden may be lifted both from the individuals suffering from the disease, as well as the society they live in.

Psoriasis is a global health challenge – but there is hope
Psoriasis is a challenging disease, both to live with and to treat, but Lars Ettarp, President of IFPA, points out that there is hope for the future:
“Great advances have been made in the field of psoriasis, medically, scientifically and technologically. But now we have to ensure that these breakthroughs are made available to all people with psoriasis all over the globe.”

About IFPA and World Psoriasis Day
IFPA, together with all its national member associations, is working to improve the quality of life for people suffering from psoriasis. Towards this end we are all united in a yearly World Psoriasis Day campaign, on October 29. In 2012 we are focusing on psoriasis as a global health challenge, and are asking all policy makers to put psoriasis on the agenda now, through a world-wide photo campaign. To read more about the campaign and view the photos, please visit www.worldpsoriasisday.com.

[i] Please see IFPA’s report ”Psoriasis is a serious disease deserving global attention”, available for download from www.ifpa-pso.org.