Eczema Society of Kenya
For their GlobalSkin Member Impact Fund, the Eczema Society of Kenya launched an advocacy campaign to help stop stigma within the community and to raise awareness of eczema and its impact on patients and families. Their campaign was broad and had various methods for spreading awareness.
Members and volunteers mobilized community health workers and boda-boda drivers (motorcycle taxis) for eczema awareness and eczema management, by passing out flyers and providing a “Holding Your Hands”, training session on the impacts of the disease on patients.
The GlobalSkin Member Impact Fund also supported the Eczema Society of Kenya to purchase stickers and other materials to put on matatus (privately owned buses) and private cars that inform passengers of who they can contact if they are experiencing eczema.
Through a webinar series entitled, “Unmasking Eczema”, they hosted patient experts, dermatologists, and holistic nutritionists on eczema management and awareness which garnered a great turnout!
Through social media, they also hosted various giveaways of dermatologist-approved creams, as well as swag-liket-shirts for people who took part in various challenges on Facebook as part of their awareness and advocacy campaign.
In addition, patient leaders also identified volunteer "children's champions" from different schools regarding anti-bullying. Through this outreach, children were involved in an art exhibition to reflect on what bullying feels like and what being kind does for a child with eczema.
Through a modeling platform, they were also able to talk about eczema with future eczema ambassadors and advocates.
Finally, the Eczema Society of Kenya had the opportunity to be on a national television broadcast with a 30-minute feature on the personal experiences of Atopic Eczema. They were also featured in a national newspaper which had a massive impact on the organization as they received many calls and messages from patients all over.
Rachel Ogola, Founder of Eczema Society of Kenya said that receiving the GlobalSkin Impact Fund was a vital support to their organizations:
“People are more informed, phone calls to our offices have increased, a remarkable number of people are now aware of eczema, and stigma is reducing. We have more volunteers on board, more children in schools are more aware of eczema and what bullying means, also more champions have emerged.”
To learn more information, follow the Eczema Society of Kenya on Twitter or request to join their Facebook group.
