World Psoriasis Day 2022 in Kenya

Objectives

• a) To ensure patients gain more knowledge on Psoriasis, including caring for their skin and support available to psoriasis patients
• To raise awareness on World psoriasis day.

Outcomes

Psoriasis patients adopt active positive self-care practices and seek appropriate support.

Output

Patients gain knowledge on Psoriasis

1. WORLD PRORIASIS DAY SYMPOSIUM 2022

Venue: United Kenya Club

Date: 29th October 2022.

Introduction, welcoming remarks and official opening

The meeting begun with an opening prayer followed by introduction of members present.

The participants were then taken through the program for the day.

Welcome remarks by the Chairman Psoriasis Association Of Kenya:

The Chairman gave the opening remarks and welcomed all participants and introduced the PAK secretariat. He wished the participants productive deliberations and the symposium officially opened.

All participants introduced themselves and the program began running.

Symposium preliminaries and overview of the years WPD theme Mental Health:

Dr Waweru took the participants through an analysis of the theme mental health.

Participants had an interactive session defining what mental health is and what it meant to them, most importantly what they feel affects them most as people living with psoriasis.

The Vice-secretary engaged the participants in setting out the symposium engagement rules, she later took them through the objectives of the symposium and the members expectations.

Members Expectations

The participants keenly following proceedings

The following were the expectations as presented by the participants.

• To learn more about psoriatic disease and how it affects mental health.
• To gain extensive knowledge on various psoriasis treatments.
• To learn how they can come together to unload the burden of psoriatic disease.

DR KAVETES PRESENTATION ON INTRODUCTION TO PSORIASIS

Dr Kavete took members through a brief introduction of psoriasis, basic facts about psoriasis and treatments and complications of the same.

The participants had an interactive question and answer section where Dr Kavete answered and engaged with the member on the topics she had presented on.

DR ANGWENYI’S PRESENTATION

Dr Angwenyi did a presentation on psoriatic disease, comorbidities & Quality of Life and mental health.

The participants had an interactive session with Dr Angwenyi tackling the topic of how psoriasis affects the patient’s quality of life and mental health.

Dr Angwenyi gave the participants time to ask questions and she answered the same in an interactive Q&A session.

ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN ADVOCACY

Journalist Joy Wanja Muraya took the participants through the topic of the role in social media in advocacy.

The participants learnt that they can spread awareness and take advantage of social networks to promote their cause and connect with others living with psoriatic disease.

Joy also taught the members about framing issues, and gathering and disseminating data for advocacy.

DAVID IRUNGU –PATIENTS PESRPECTIVE AND EXPERIENCE WITH PSORIATIC DISAESE

A patient, David Irungu narrated his experience living with psoriasis, the challenges he faces and how he embraced this condition and embarked on his journey of raising awareness about psoriatic disease.

David telling his psoriasis story.

CLOSING REMARKS:

The Chairman expressed his gratitude for the participation of all.

He then proceeded to answer any questions that participants had I relation to PAK and psoriatic disease.

With the few remarks, the WPD symposium 2022 meeting was officially closed and members led to the area where lunch was served.

AFTERNOON SESSION

ALL THE COLORS WE ARE PROJECT.

After having lunch, some of the participants participated in the making of all the colors we are project.

The participants had a four hour session with the photographer filming short stories of living with psoriasis and documenting how psoriatic disease manifests in different skin colors for all the colors we are project.