Shun them not

Dr. Lalaine Visitacion, PFPI vice president. (Ace Perez)
Dr. Lalaine Visitacion, PFPI vice president. (Ace Perez)

PEOPLE living with psoriasis have to deal beyond what physically ails them.

The deeper problem attached to this disease is social stigma against patients. It is affecting them mentally, emotionally, and socioeconomically which in a way alters their overall quality of life.

The stigma is caused by misconception of many that psoriasis is contagious. It is not. One cannot acquire psoriasis by touching someone who has it. In fact, the World Health Organization classifies it as a non-communicable disease.

Bella Navalta is suffering from psoriasis since she was 43 years old. The former Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) admitted that she always felt sorry for herself given her condition.

“Ulaw uy, karon gani gi-invite ko sa akong mga amigo mamirthday pero wala ko niadto kay maulaw gihapon ko (I’m ashamed with myself, I was invited by a friend to attend a birthday party but I declined because I’m still ashamed with my skin condition),” she shared.

Now at 55, Bella’s right foot, waist, part of her legs, and scalp are affected with psoriasis. She’s wearing a jacket, socks and cap on when we were having the interview at the sidelines of the World Psoriasis Day celebration at Robinson’s Place in Tagum City last Thursday, October 25.

Like her, majority of the roughly two million Filipinos affected with psoriasis feel the same. Commonly, psoriasis patients tend to feel unattractive and depressed due to people’s misconception. Some chose to just work from home to avoid public appearance.

According to Healthline newsletter, psoriasis "is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes the rapid build-up of skin cells. This build-up of cells causes scaling on the skin's surface".

A chronic autoimmune disease estimated to affect 125 million people worldwide, psoriasis causes skin cells to grow too fast and accumulate, resulting in red, scaly patches.

Patients with psoriasis are at an increased risk of developing serious health problems: psoriatic arthritis, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, anxiety, and depression. It has a strong genetic basis and environmental components as causes, and can be triggered by stress, infection, alcohol, and smoking.

According to the Psoriasis Foundation of the Philippines Inc. (PFPI), there are over 250 psoriasis cases in Davao City since 2014.

The foundation aims to raise funds for the treatment of indigent psoriasis patients, provide easy access to medication, and to promote awareness and understanding of the disease.

Correcting misinformation

PFPI president Dr. Victoria Guillano told SunStar Davao that better education and awareness campaign about the disease and contact with people who have it could help dispel myths and ease the stigma.

“We are doing awareness campaigns, gathering psoriasis patients. With these efforts, we are slowly able to convey to the public that psoriasis patients are not contagious. And most especially we are educating the patients themselves,” she said.

She added that patients are empowered through education about their disease and giving them easy access for medicine.

“Those patient who are seeking help from us, we check their Daily Life Quality Index (DLQI), we are counselling patients, we explain to them thoroughly about their disease, we let them know about their rights, these are very important to uplift them,” Guillano said.

One of their successful awareness efforts is the “Hug Campaign”. This campaign recognizes that hug is the most physical demonstration that psoriasis is not contagious.

Another milestone for the campaign on debunking myths about psoriasis and giving patients access to medication is the funding of P1 million earmarked by the Department of Health for the massive information drive on psoriasis this year.

“We have started our advocacy way back and with our constant dialogue with the authorities we were able to get a funding for our campaign,” she said.

The fund is helpful for the three-leg event staged in the cities of Cebu, Davao, and Tagum for the whole month of October. The event, led by PFPI, is in time for the World Psoriasis Day celebration on October 29, it has a theme: Treat Psoriasis Seriously.

The event featured a lay forum, free clinic, games, and wellness (PsorZumba) activities participated for free by all Psoriasis patients, family members and friends.

Guillano underscored that with these efforts more patients are now seeking medication.

Better access to medication

Apart from spreading awareness, giving patients with better access to appropriate and affordable treatment is pushed.

Though the disease may not be cured, there are several effective treatments available to clear patients’ skin.

Nina, not her real name, attended the event in Tagum last Thursday to avail free clinic. It was here first time to join a gathering of her co-patients and it felt empowering, she shared.

“When I knew first about my condition, I just neglected it thinking it will be cured with self-medication. It took me years before I sought for medical advice,” she said in vernacular.

Nina was given medications but she hardly can afford it because it is expensive for a minimum earner like her.

To clear psoriasis-affected skin, one needs some P500,000 a year.

“Medication is really expensive but we are glad that it is now available and accessible,” Guillano said adding patient can seek financial assistance to Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

PFPI is actively lobbying in the House of the Representatives for the adoption of House Bill 1818, a resolution urging Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) to include psoriasis in the list of diseases and ailments covered by its health care program.

“It is now considered approved according to Masbate Representative Scott Lanete,” she added.

The bill hopes to lessen the cases of psoriasis in the country by making treatment available especially to the marginalized.

For instance, for the two million Filipinos with psoriasis, PFPI shared that 93 percent of all patients want to recover from all skin lesions; 86 percent want a clear diagnosis and therapy; 69 percent want fewer out of pocket expenses; 56 percent want to feel less depressed; and 41 percent want to live a normal working life.

Looking back, there is but a significant gain achieved in raising awareness about psoriasis and hopefully the current flows to the same direction for the years to come. With more awareness campaign on the disease, let it be the end of the stigma and start of a more inclusive community that psoriasis patients deserve.

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