World Vitiligo Day (WVD), which was originally established to raise awareness for vitiligo, has now been a global event, celebrated widely by vitiligo fighters, their families, and doctors. Each year, on WVD, people talk about the skin condition, raise money for vitiligo research, give free skin exams, and educate physicians on how to provide emotional support to patients with vitiligo.
World Vitiligo Day 2022 was no different. It served as an event to build global awareness about vitiligo. The event was observed globally in various parts of the world with great enthusiasm. Here’s what all happened around the world on the occasion of World Vitiligo Day 2022.
Asia
India where a significant percentage of the world’s vitiligo population lives witnessed many vitiligo awareness talks and other social campaigns across the country. While the Indian Association of Dermatologists – Andhra chapter, conducted a vitiligo awareness walk at Ramakrishna Beach in Visakhapatnam, World Vitiligo Day 2022 was observed under the theme of “Children, Research, & Hope for the Future” at Sangai Hotel in Imphal (Manipur). In Chennai, at Government Omandurar Medical College Hospital, doctors, nurses, and medical students, along with patients with vitiligo, formed a human chain against discriminating persons affected with vitiligo and to ensure treatment for them.
That was not it; On this world vitiligo day, Ahammune Biosciences – a prominent pharmaceutical firm from India also announced first in human studies for their vitiligo drug in partnership with Veeda Clinical Research. Ahammune’s investigational new drug for vitiligo- AB1001 has a mechanism of action that targets pathways involved in triggering autoimmunity in the skin. First-in-human (Phase 1) studies with AB1001 will be conducted by Veeda Clinical Research in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
North America
This year the global World Vitiligo Day’s headquarters shifted to Mexico. All WVD 2022 activities were conducted under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Med. Jorge Ocampo Candiani. On the other hand, in the United States, Global Vitiligo Foundation and Litty Ligo Community Network organized important WVD 2022 events. The biggest WVD celebration in the USA took take place in Bloomington, Minnesota from June 24th to 26th. The 3-day event included a mix of conference-style information sessions and opportunities to socialize and celebrate World Vitiligo Day 2022.
On the social media front, Vitiligo Research Foundation, a US-based vitiligo-focused non-profit, ran a placard campaign featuring prominent social media influencers with vitiligo.
South America
In Brazil, Radio Gazeta prominently carried awareness talks with doctors. Another event that grabbed local media’s attention was held on 24th June, a day before World Vitiligo Day. A digital awareness talk named “MY SON HAS VITILIGO AND HAS NO TREATMENT” featured prominent parents with vitiligo from Sao Paulo and across Brazil. In Brazil, most children with vitiligo are exposed to heavy drugs and painful therapies in the name of vitiligo treatment from an incredibly young age. This particular session intended to help mothers and fathers know vitiligo better and work on their children’s acceptance and self-esteem.
Europe
MAKE UP FOR EVER Paris’ social media handle highlighted a video under its ‘Discover #MyVitiligo’ social campaign. The campaign featured a few prominent faces with vitiligo, including Jasroop Kaur Singh (British Model), Francesca Prini (Founder – Florence Pole Dance Studio), and Jyoti Brault (Fashion Model from Paris). The video went viral on social media and had many community members regramming it.
Africa
In South Africa, World Vitiligo Day 2022 was celebrated with great enthusiasm among the chain of hospitals to raise awareness of vitiligo. Dr Fundile Nyati, CEO of Proactive Health Solutions, spoke to the media on the cause and treatment of the skin condition. He emphasized, “The most observed side effect is the stigma attached to the skin condition that sometimes leaves people feeling socially isolated. It’s a condition you can live with and in fact, several people are taking pride in accepting that there is nothing that they can do about changing the cause.”