24/06/2015
World Vitiligo Day
Vitiligo is a disease involving white patches which have tremendous psychological impact due to high stigma. Although, it does not cause any physical malady, it comes in the way of life, education, job opportunities, and scholastic backwardness.
All this is the result of the many misconceptions about the disease; that it is contagious and that it cannot be treated. Recurrences may occur and the course is highly un-predictable. It can be treated effectively with topical/oral medications, phototherapy, surgeries and lasers.
Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists andLeprologists (IADVL) with a noble intent, has pledged to fight against this disease and its stigma. In this direction, we have undertaken
‘NATIONAL LEVEL PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN’
to remove the misconceptions and stigma about much misunderstood disease “VITILIGO” by spreading the information to public thatVitiligo is not contagious; Vitiligo is treatable; Vitiligo is not always hereditary; Vitiligo patients can marry; Vitiligo patients need our support, sympathy and understanding.
Our objectives include: Creating public awareness and removing misconceptions about vitiligo; inclusion of vitiligo in the schedule of non- communicable diseases; publishing vitiligo health information brochure in regional languages; to share the data of various studies on Vitiligo at both national and international forum to encourage dermatologists / scientists involved in vitiligo research, thus promoting research in vitiligo. This is our sincere attempt towards strengthening our collective fight against this social scourge.
Various activities will be held throughout the country. Banners, posters and brochures with information on vitiligo will be distributed to all clinics, institutes and hospitals in INDIA for the benefit of public. Apart from this, Continuing Medical Education (CME) on vitiligo, rally, playing documentary movie on vitiligo, Street play and many such activities are organized throughout the country on the same day for the public education on this disease and to eliminate social stigma associated with it.
Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL), has adopted vitiligo as a disease of priority and various activities has been organized with the same objective to promote understanding, create awareness among public, and dispel myths. IADVL is also encouraging various research activities related to vitiligo among dermatologists and scientists at the national and international platform. IADVL has been observing VITILIGO DAY every year on 19th May to educate public. However, from current year, it will be observed every year on 25th June along with World Vitiligo Day.
As a part of national level public awareness campaign under IADVL, each state organizes VITILIGO DAY on JUNE 25th 2015
