Psoriasis Awareness Campaigns! Are you as confused as me?

[Fred]

As much as I like the idea of having Psoriasis Awareness Campaigns, and I do appreciate the work that everyone does, I’m starting to get a little confused over when they are on, who is actually in charge of running them, and what is the aim!

Obviously the aim is to raise awareness about Psoriasis. But is it? Looking at some of the advertising that sometimes goes with “Awareness Campaigns” I have noticed the big 5 are often present. Abbott / Janssen / Leo / Novartis / Pfizer.

The International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (IFPA) looks like a good idea at first glance. But again there are the big 5! And why do members have to pay a minimum of $25 per year to be a member?

World Psoriasis Day: Is on October 29 of each year; however it looks like the website is only updated once a year. Oh look its run by IFPA and there are the big 5 again!

The National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) has “Psoriasis Awareness Month” each August. Whilst checking this on their website I did spot Amgen / Abbott / Janssen / and Pfizer at the foot of the page.

The Psoriasis Association UK tells us that it’s Psoriasis Awareness Week 1st-7th November. I’m pleased to say that I didn’t find any advertising. stop press check out their links page!

Well I think I should stop there as this post will obviously upset some people. But you know what I don’t care. I’m just a person with psoriasis, sharing information with others in the hope that someone will get some useful information.

My Psoriasis Campaign: Share information, support you fellow sufferers all year round as and when you can. Let the people do the advertising for the drug manufacturers by sharing their own experience. Oh and I hereby announce 2012 as World Psoriasis Year.

*PC Note: This post is not intended to take anything away from the hard work that Abbot / Janssen / Leo / Novartis / Pfizer / Amgen / IFPA / World Psoriasis Day / NPF / Psoriasis Association do. it’s just my personal opinion, and let’s hope one day we can all work together to find a cure for Psoriasis. (Then again would the big 5 want that!)

[Lostintranslation]

AMEN!

[Fred]

Here is an update on my first post in this thread above. did you know there is now also "NATIONAL PSORIASIS AWARENESS WEEK". isn't it time we all worked together, get rid of the sponsors, and tell the world about Psoriasis on the same day in a united push!

MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

PROCLAMATION NO. 179

DECLARING THE PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 23 TO 29, 2011 AND EVERY LAST WEEK OF OCTOBER THEREAFTER AS “NATIONAL PSORIASIS AWARENESS WEEK”

WHEREAS, Psoriasis Philippines has pursued initiatives to raise awareness about psoriasis and give people with psoriasis the attention and consideration they need;

WHEREAS, psoriasis is a serious, life-long, inflammatory, non-communicable, auto-immune disease / immune-mediated, genetic disease manifesting in the skin and/or joints, and carries severe physical, mental and socio-economic burdens on over 125 million people worldwide, including 1.9 million Filipinos; and

WHEREAS, psoriasis can develop in males or females across all socio-economic groups, of any race or age, including infants and elderly.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the period from October 23 to 29, 2011 and every last week of October thereafter as “National Psoriasis Week”.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 30th day of May in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Eleven.

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

By the President:
(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.

Executive Secretary