There are only 30 dermatologists in Kenya serving a population of 40 million. Each year Africa Psoriasis Organization (APSO) conducts free health camps to facilitate access to correct diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis and other skin diseases to poor families in slums and rural areas. To make our program sustainable and benefit a larger population on daily basis, Africa Psoriasis Organization is starting a Psoriasis Treatment and Resource Center in Nairobi.
Psoriasis, a disease affecting more than 1 million Kenyans is considered rare. There are only 30 dermatologists in Kenya, thus, access to proper diagnosis and treatment is difficult. It is common to encounter cases of individuals who struggle for over 5 years before knowing they suffer from psoriasis. Proper treatment is hard to get and afford because drugs are expensive and often unavailable. Hopelessness and stigmatization have lead to Schools dropouts and work abandonment.
The treatment Center will have full time dermatologists / skin care specialists, diagnostics equipment and all medicines. Diagnosis and treatment will be provided to anyone with skin disease. Those diagnosed with psoriasis will continue to be assisted through Africa Psoriasis Organization's Patient's Assistance Program (PAP). Psoriasis education, counseling, patients interaction and support forums will be provided to affected patients and their families at the center.
The Treatment center will significantly reduce cases of undiagnosed and untreated skin diseases. Increased understanding of psoriasis among patients, family members and general public. Increased hope and reduced stigmatization. Improvement of psoriasis community livelihood and increased school completion rate among school children suffering from psoriasis and other chronic skin diseases. Availability of credible data for disease analysis and research.
This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).
