“We want to raise awareness and break stigma around psoriasis in Paraguay”

Dr. Gerardo Arguello and Hugo Federico Bellassai Benitez, founders of Paraguay’s first psoriasis patient organization.

Psoriasis often goes undiagnosed and misunderstood in Paraguay, where access to specialists remains limited. Determined to change this reality, Hugo Federico Bellassai Benitez and Gerardo Arguello founded the country’s first national psoriasis patient organization – APPEAP (Asociación de Pacientes con Psoriasis y Enfermedades Autoinmunes de la Piel – Association of Patients with Psoriasis and Autoimmune Skin Diseases). What began as a small WhatsApp group is now a growing community advocating for awareness, better care, and patient rights.

Can you tell us how your organization began?

My name is Hugo, and together with Gerardo, we founded this organization. The idea started after we attended a psoriasis conference in Colombia. There, we learned much more about the disease and realized how little awareness exists in Paraguay.

In our country, many people do not seek medical attention, and there are very few dermatologists—especially outside the capital. As a result, psoriasis often goes undiagnosed or misunderstood. After returning from Colombia, we decided to create an association to educate patients and the public about the disease and available treatments.

What were your first steps in building the organization?

We started by reaching out to patients, especially those outside the capital, where access to care is even more limited. We created WhatsApp groups to connect people, and it grew organically—someone would invite a friend, a relative, or someone they knew with psoriasis.

Support from international organizations was also very important. They guided us, shared their experiences, and gave us practical advice on how to build and structure an association.

How did you connect with IFPA?

We were introduced to IFPA through a personal connection, which opened new opportunities for collaboration and support.

What challenges did you face, and what are your goals moving forward?

One of the biggest challenges is the lack of medication and limited access to healthcare professionals. We are currently working with the Ministry of Public Health to find solutions to prevent medication shortages and improve access to treatment.

At the same time, we are running awareness campaigns on social media to educate people about psoriasis—its symptoms, treatment options, and the importance of seeking care.
Looking ahead, we have several goals:

• Organizing patient meetings with international guests to share knowledge and experiences
• Celebrating World Psoriasis Day with a national event
• Providing training for healthcare professionals to improve diagnosis and care
• Expanding access to treatment outside the capital so patients in rural areas don’t have to travel long distances
• Visiting schools to raise awareness and reduce stigma and bullying 

How large is your community today?

We currently have around 80 patients in our main group, and our Instagram community has grown to about 1,000 followers.

Wow, that’s great! You recently held an opening event—can you tell us about it?

Yes, in November we organized our first event. Around 25 patients attended, along with dermatologists, a rheumatologist, and a psychologist.

The goal was to raise awareness and break the stigma surrounding psoriasis. In Paraguay, there is still a lot of fear and misunderstanding about psoriasis. We wanted to create a space where people could learn, ask questions, and feel supported.

What was the outcome of the event?

It was a very rewarding and emotional experience. We felt strong support from the community, and many participants expressed gratitude for the information shared at the event.
Seeing people as they feel more confident and less alone was incredibly meaningful for us. It confirmed that what we are doing matters—and that there is a real need for this kind of work in Paraguay.