Easter Symposium and Online Psoriasis Awareness Campaign

1. Opening Remarks

Psoriasis Association of Kenya (PAK) is the recipient of IFPs 2022 Solidarity Fund. Funds were used to create -The Easter Symposium & Online Psoriasis Awareness Campaign. The main target being psoriasis patients and care givers. The online campaign focused on raising awareness around psoriasis, advocating not to discriminate patients living with the condition and educate on the condition not being contagious.

Thereafter the symposium created a safe space to share experiences of living with the condition and provide the opportunity to interact with medical practitioners.

Problem Addressed: psoriasis is not a well-known disease in Kenya. A lot of myths and taboos beliefs surround the condition.

2. Achievement of Project Purpose

Project Purpose: Equipping patients and care givers with knowledge of the condition whilst empowering the greater public on the condition.

• The education series reached over 5,000 patients, care givers and medical practitioners on Facebook and Instagram.
• 5 psoriasis patients of different races/ethnicities/religions/age/gender/demographics showed that psoriasis doesn't discriminate.
• The advocacy series empowered patients, caregivers and the general public.
• Real stories shared by people living with psoriasis spread hope.
• PAK member attended the Easter Symposium. The leverage of the Easter Symposium has been very large. Through the program, PAK was able to build a new website, new social media accounts and lay the foundation for future advocacy works.

3. Project Outputs

• 24 patients and care givers attended 2 meetings in March and April 2022.
• 7 members contributed stories.
• An interview was published by BBC Life Clinic. Read the interview on their website at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0cb6wdv
• 2000 people were reached on the website, social media, and PAK forums
• Education was delivered on living a quality and productive life with psoriasis. The main message was 'there is hope.'
• 1 doctor and 1 nurse spoke to PAK members during the Easter symposium sharing latest findings and educational tips on living with psoriasis.

4. Closing remarks

Successes

The project was highly successful in delivering its outputs. It was created and led by PAK members.

Challenges

1 The project was not able to realize this output to its full potential. Some of the factors hindering the project success was availability of patients & care givers to attend the meetings. The meetings were split into two to give attendees opportunities to attend. Unfortunately, most sent their apologies due to unforeseen circumstance/job commitments. The success of the online campaign balanced out the low attendance rate and lead to the overall success of the project.

2 Media houses were initially not open to air psoriasis related news. Their main storyline interest being politics as it is an election year. Only 1 media house expressed interested in telling the story what is psoriasis. BBC Life Clinic: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0cb6wdv

Lessons Learnt

The enrolment of new members, growth of social media platforms showed there is a high demand for knowledge on psoriasis.

Patients and caregivers were meaningfully involved in addressing matters affecting them, their voice and opinions were sought and their solutions to the problems they face considered. Actively engaging PAK members to volunteer proved that such projects can again be successfully implemented in future by members.

Return on Investment

PAK membership is open to all patients, care givers and health workers in Kenya. Members are only encouraged to pay an annual membership fee. Membership status is not revoked due to non-payment.

In this period, the enrolment of non-paying PAK members increased significantly. This showed the value of the project brought in a high social return on investment (SROI).