Welcome
Message from the President:I am delighted to send this message to the Vitiligo Association of Australia and all the website visitors of this newly formed association.
Vitiligo is a disease of 1% of the world's population but the attention it receives from medical circles, healthcare policy planners, and research organizations is totally inadequate. One of the reasons for the lack of resource allocation is because many people have wrongly considered it as a 'mere cosmetic problem' rather than a disease with psychologically devastating consequences. Most of the developed countries have had vitiligo support groups, but there had not been an Australia-wide vitiligo support group. A small support group has been functioning in Sydney for a few years. We are happy to have their representation as well in this national effort.
Vitiligo affects all age groups, and people with all shades of skin colour. It psychologically affects (those suffering from vitiligo) to varying degrees depending on their personal expectations, social and cultural settings etc. The psychological effects are usually more in persons with darker skin colour as the contrast is obvious. When vitiligo affects children, not only the children, but the parents also become anxious and emotionally effected. As vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder some patients have other associated autoimmune disorders as well. We hope Vitiligo Association of Australia will be able to help vitiligo patients and their families in Australia in someway. While all the efforts should be made to treat vitiligo where possible, it is also important for patients to learn to cope with the condition without getting too affected psychologically.
The aims of our association are;The inaugural meeting of the Vitiligo Association was held on 23rd October 2010 in Perth, WA. It is very encouraging to have many dermatologists from different states supporting this association. We are hoping to use this National network to collaborate in research as well as improving patient care more uniformly. We also hope to make representations to Medicare about rebates for patients receiving various services for vitiligo . At present targeted light therapy, camouflage and surgical treatments for vitiligo do not have Medicare item numbers or any government concessions. We also hope to emphasize the need to seek the assistance of counsellors or psychologists where necessary in managing vitiligo patients.
I would also like to encourage vitiligo patients across Australia to make our website an interactive information base. We have already established links with the National Vitiligo Foundation in USA, Vitiligo Society of UK, Vitiligo European Task Force, Vitiligo Society of South Africa and Shweta Association(India). These groups are also willing to collaborate with us. We are now a part of the World Alliance of Vitiligo Support(WAVS). Their website is www.wavs.eu
I look forward to your active support to make this association grow and prosper. Our aim is to help vitiligo patients all over Australia. We have just started the Vitiligo Association of Australia website. We welcome your ideas to improve the services by the association. Please e mail myself(prasadkumarasinghe@yahoo.com) or Dr. Benjamin Daniel (Hony Secretary) on b.daniel@unsw.edu.au with your ideas and suggestions for improvement..
I appeal to every dermatologist and medical personnel in the group to try and arrange patient education/patient interactive meetings at your respective local hospital or private clinic to make people more aware of vitiligo, offer psychological support for vitiligo patients, and discuss treatment options available. We will also keep our web visitors updated on the new findings on vitiligo.
Vitiligo should not deter anyone from reaching his/her goals in life.
Dr. Prasad KumarasinghePresident Vitiligo Association of Australia
Royal Perth Hospital,
Perth,WA
