KATHMANDU, JULY 9

With the objective of promoting awareness about skin diseases among the general public and drawing the attention of concerned stakeholders, the Society of Dermatologists, Venereologists, and Leprologists of Nepal (SODVELON) and Rare Skin Diseases Nepal, in collaboration with the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) and the International Society of Dermatology (ISD), marked the day with the theme 'Skin Health for All' amid various programs in Kathmandu.

World Skin Health Day, a global initiative by the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) and the International Society of Dermatology (ISD) on July 8, aims to educate people about the importance of skin and promote actions for global skin health.

Besides raising awareness, it also aims to inspire action on social media through engaging posts, stories, and live chats. Furthermore, it strives to make a difference for underserved patients by providing care through outreach clinics, patient training, volunteer days, and educational events such as conferences, webinars, podcasts, exhibitions, and rallies.

Dr. Niraj Parajuli, General Secretary of SODVELON, said, 'It cannot get any better than emphasizing our collaborative effort to propel a World Health Assembly resolution on 'Skin Disease as a Public Health Problem' on World Skin Health Day.

'We are dedicated to enhancing global awareness of skin health, understanding skin diseases, and expanding access to knowledge and dermatological services across the world,' Dr. Parajuli said.

Drawing the attention of officials at the Department of Health under the Ministry of Health and Population in Teku, KathmanduDr. Parajuli shared the disease burden: around 3 billion people lack proper dermatological care, making skin disease the third most prevalent cause of illness and one of the top 10 causes of disability.

He also highlighted the huge burden of fungal infections in South Asia and noted that skin diseases contribute to more than 41.9 million disability-adjusted life years.

Dr Parajuli also emphasized the acute shortage of trained health workers to treat these illnesses, with only 250 dermatologists in the country, primarily centered in Kathmandu. Most patients are compelled to pay out of pocket, and there is significant socio-economic stigma attached to these diseases.

Dr. Parajuli also highlighted the specific disease burden: skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, with more than 1.5 million cases diagnosed each year; acne is the 8th most common disease, affecting 85% of adults; eczema affects over 230 million people; scabies affects over 200 million worldwide; psoriasis affects around 125 million people; vitiligo affects around 70 million people; leprosy affects more than 200,000 people globally; leishmaniasis affects around 1 million worldwide; and albinism affects 1 in 5,000 people in Sub-Saharan Africa and 1 in 200,000 in Europe and North America.

'We are commemorating the day to promote education about skin diseases, advocate for equality in skin health access, encourage involvement in providing access to those in need, foster a sense of community, and highlight the importance of visibility for underserved communities,' Dr. Parajuli shared.

Echoing Dr. Parajuli's views, Dr. Manisha Singh, Vice-President of SODVELON, said that despite skin being the largest organ and reflecting internal health, the government has failed to incorporate skin health care at the policy level and increase access to skin care across the country.

'At this moment, I would like to draw the government's attention to improving dermatology practices among practitioners to safeguard the interests and rights of patients, ensuring better access to quality skin care in Nepal,' Dr. Singh stressed.

On the occasion, Dr. Yadu Chandra Ghimire, Director of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) under the Ministry of Health and Population, said, 'We were aware of these diseases but never prioritized them since they were not considered fatal. Now, I would like to assure you that the government has taken this issue seriously and recognizes the disease burden on the general population. We will incorporate skin health care into policy to ensure better care for patients across the country.'

Coming all the way from Japan to mark the day, Dr. Manabu Fujimoto, Professor and Chair of the Department of Dermatology at Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, highlighted the role and commitment of the International League of Dermatological Societies in fostering knowledge among practitioners and providing better quality care to patients across the Asia-Pacific region.

Celebrating World Skin Health Day without interacting with leprosy patients at Anandaban Hospital would have been unfair. However, Dr. Mahesh Shah, former Medical Director at Anandaban Hospital, The Leprosy Mission Nepal, had a different idea: he took delegates to the hospital to witness firsthand the challenges of skin diseases, particularly leprosy, and to celebrate the day with patients, bolstering their confidence in receiving quality care.

On the occasion, Dr. Niraj Parajuli announced that the team of doctors would soon visit the hospital to commemorate the day with a meal for patients and other staff. 'We are not only celebrating World Skin Health Day in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, but also marking the day with various events across all seven provinces in the country,' shared Dr. Parajuli.

During the Continuing Medical Education (CME) session for dermatologists and residents later in the evening, Dr. Dwarika Prasad Shrestha shed light on dermatological care in rural Nepal, while Dr. Manabu Fujimoto presented on skin-resident memory T-cells: their roles in skin diseases and beyond. Dr. Parajuli provided an overview and emphasized the importance of skin health for all.

In her closing remarks, Dr. Saraswoti Neupane, President of SODVELON, thanked all the participants and emphasized the importance of skin care for a better quality of life. Dr Neupane also urged stakeholders to foster collaboration with international partners in knowledge sharing and promoting skin health for all.

The meeting, co-chaired by Dr. Govinda Pokharel and Dr. Saraswoti Neupane, was hosted by Dr. Sudesna Adhikari.

All the photos captured during the commoration of the World Skin Health Day are provided the SODVELON.