Activities

Throughout January 2020, the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (Brazil) undertook a wide range of activities, including a multimedia campaign, skin consultations and workshops, to help raise awareness and treat Leprosy across Brazil, particularly amongst underserved communities.

16 February, the Philippine Dermatological Society (Philippines) planned to host a skin health fair in Manila, where they were going to provide free lectures, skin consultations and educational booths on common dermatological conditions. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this activity was postponed. 

6 April 2020, the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (India) provided free online educational talks, consultations, and resources via social media, including Facebook and Instagram.

Throughout May 2020, the Tanzania Society for Dermatovenereology (Tanzania) ran a free outreach clinic in an underserved Maasai community, where they provided free dermatological care and treatment to 428 people. As part of this, they undertook educational talks on COVID-19 transmission and prevention measures and distributed protective gear.

5 May 2020, during its Congress, the European Society of Skin Cancer Prevention planned to run an awareness campaign and Q&A session on skin cancer and prevention on Twitter. In addition to this, they were going to host a press conference and produce a press release on skin cancer and skin health. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this activity was postponed. 

13 – 17 May, the Swiss Society for Dermatology and Venereology (Switzerland) undertook a national multimedia awareness campaign to help raise awareness about skin cancer.

25 June 2020, the Vitiligo Research Group Macedonia (Macedonia) intended to run a social media campaign about vitiligo to raise awareness and address misconceptions about the conditions. They were also planning to provide lectures on Vitiligo and Pigmental Disorders to healthcare workers and professional as well as free dermatological consultations and follow up care to patients. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this activity was postponed. 

August – September 2020, the Turkish Society of Dermatology (Turkey) raised awareness about skin cancer and sun protection through a multimedia campaign and educational workshops among Turkey’s farming communities. As part of this, they developed educational resources and distributed protective equipment to farmers, including wide brim hats and sunscreen. In total, they reached 12,000 people.

4 September 2020, the Communtaria Mexico Programme (Mexico) provided sporotrichosis training online to 38 frontline healthcare workers in Montana, Guerrero.  The presentation will also be disseminated to other frontline health workers. It is hoped an estimated 5,000 people from indigenous communities will be able to receive better dermatological care, particularly those in rural and mountainous areas in Guerrero who lack access.

Late September 2020, the Australasian College of Dermatologists (Australia) raised awareness about access to teledermatology services in Australia via a multimedia campaign. In total, they reached over 40,000 people. 

October 2020, the Communtaria Mexico Programme (Mexico) will undertake two clinical outreach trips to Ocuituco and Sn Luis Acatlán, Mexico. During this trip, they will provide free educational resources, dermatological consultations, and treatment to underserved indigenous communities, who have limited to no access to primary healthcare services. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this activity was postponed. 

Throughout October 2020, the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (Brazil)

Undertook a multimedia campaign to raise awareness about psoriasis and access to health services.

Throughout November 2020, the Philippine Dermatological Society (Philippines) provided free online skin consultations and follow up treatment to people from underserved community across the Philippines.

10 – 11 November 2020, the Cambodian In-Country Support Project (Cambodia), undertook a multimedia campaign about skin health. In conjunction with this, they provided free skin consultations and treatments, including distributing medicine, to 280 people.

25 November 2020, in partnership with the Brazilian Society of Dermatology Nursing, the Dermatology Nurses’ Association (United States of America and Brazil) produced a flyer on healthy skin as part of World Skin Health Day, which was shared with member societies, affiliate organisations and healthcare providers across the United States

2 – 4 December 2020, in partnership with Clinique Dermatologique, Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry (Guinea) hosted a free interactive conference on the psychosocial and psychodermatological impact of acne. In addition to this, they ran a multi-media awareness campaign and provide free skin consultations and treatment to 500 people.

17 December 2020, Beyond Suncare (Malawi) ran a sun protection and skin cancer awareness workshop for people living with albinism (PWAs) and their relatives in Mzimba District Hospital. However, due to COVID-19, they reduced the number of workshop attendees to 17 people to adhere to social distancing regulations. As part of their event, they also provided dermatological care to 11 PWAs and distributed sunscreen. 

Throughout December 2020, the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (Brazil)

Undertook a multimedia campaign as part of its efforts to fight and prevent skin cancer, which included television and radio broadcasts as well as online posts about skin cancer prevention and awareness. 

Throughout 2020, the French Society of Dermatology (France) expanded its public resources on skin health and conditions. In addition to this, it also published information about COVID-19 and its impact on skin health. Since this update, over 1.5 million people have viewed and accessed the resources from across a wide range of  Francophone countries, Including Senegal, Algeria, Belgium, Martinique, France and many others.