2022 ILDS DermLink Grant Recipients Announced

In partnership with the Albinism Sans Frontiere (ASF), the Tanzania Society for Dermatovenereology (TASOD) aims to establish a national database, which will be linked to the Regional Dermatology Training Centre (RDTC) in Tanzania. Through this database, they will track the number of people living with albinism (PWAs) and cases of skin cancer among albino patients in Burundi to improve the quality of care. This database will be launched as part of a broader programme where patients can access free treatment and resources at outreach clinics and local hospitals. TASOD and ASF will also run community-based workshops to raise awareness about albinism and help establish Albinism Associations in 17 provinces in Burundi. Through this initiative, they hope to improve access to healthcare services for PWAs and raise awareness about albinism in Burundi.

With the support of the Dermatological Society of South Africa (DSSA), Wolaita Sodo University seeks to provide dermatological training to general practitioners (GPs) across Wolaita Sodo, South Central Ethiopia. As part of this, GPs will receive training on common skin conditions and neglected tropical diseases over a 30-day intensive programme. This training is crucial as there is just over one dermatologist per 1 million residents in Ethiopia. The situation is more acute in rural areas as modern health services are limited and skin health services are virtually nonexistent. This project seeks to address this by improving general practitioners' dermatological knowledge and skills, as they are the first point of contact for medical assistance for most patients.

The Australasian College of Dermatologists (ACD) seeks to help dermatologists from the South Pacific establish a regional dermatological society. This project aims to develop a professional network to support dispersed practitioners practising in the South Pacific. Once established, the Pacific Dermatology Society will provide dermatological training and resources for residents and frontline healthcare workers. Through this, the ACD hopes to improve collaboration, cooperation and knowledge sharing in the region and thus skin health services.

In collaboration with the Sumba Foundation, the Dutch Society for Dermatology and Venereology highlight the invisible human burden of skin diseases in eastern Indonesia to increase awareness and tackle stigmatisation. They aim to tell the visual story of leprosy and other common and neglected skin diseases prevalent in Sumba, Indonesia. They hope to share this work via an in-person exhibition in Jakarta and online to reach wider audiences.

With the support of the African Society of Dermatology and Venereology (ASDV), the Malagasy Society of Dermatology (SOMADER) seeks to provide educational workshops on managing atopic dermatitis among patients and their families by focusing on therapeutic approaches. These workshops aim to be holistic and person-centred. SOMADER will also develop resources for adults and children, including an interactive toolkit. In addition, they will provide free skin consultations, treatments and follow-up care in Southern Madagascar as part of their World Skin Health Day activity.

In collaboration with local partners, the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV) seeks to improve skin health services in Benga, Malawi. As part of its Dermalawi project, the AEDV will provide dermatological, diagnostic, and basic surgical training to frontline healthcare workers. It will also launch a teledermatology app, where community and frontline healthcare workers can access resources and seek guidance on neglected tropical diseases, common skin conditions and sexually transmitted diseases. The AEDV will also undertake two outreach clinics where patients will receive free skin consultations and follow-up care. In addition, they will run four awareness campaigns and educational workshops on albinism, leprosy, scabies, and sexual health in Benga. Throughout these campaigns and clinics, the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology will work closely with community leaders and groups to ensure services and resources are tailored to the community's needs.

In partnership with the Irish Association of Dermatologists (IAD), Standing Voice seeks to expand its Skin Cancer Prevention Programme and patient database to five new districts in Malawi to prevent rates of skin cancer among PWAs in Mchinji, Phalombe, Mulanje, Blantyre and Balaka. These five districts have a large underserved population of people with albinism. Through this initiative, PWAs in Mchinji, Phalombe, Mulanje, Blantyre and Balaka can access clinics twice a year. They will receive sunscreen, protective clothing, health education, and comprehensive dermatological examinations. Patients will also receive cryotherapy, surgical excision or (in severe cases) referral to a major hospital where necessary. Through this initiative, they hope to improve access to healthcare services for PWAs and raise their awareness about skin cancer prevention in Malawi.

The Nigerian Association of Dermatologists aims to increase primary care providers' dermatological knowledge and skills, including general medical practitioners, medical officers, community pharmacists and nurses, and community health workers. As part of this, they will provide training on the appropriate diagnosis, management, and referral of Skin Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in six states in Nigeria - Lagos, Oyo, Nassarawa, Katsina, Akwa-Ibom and Abia States. The NAD will train 80 health workers from each state, making a minimum of 480 participants for the project. Through this, they hope to improve the diagnosis and treatment of Skin NTDs in Nigeria, which is endemic in low resource and rural communities.

In Sri Lanka, leishmaniasis is a growing health concern. It is almost endemic in many regions due to poor living and working conditions, migration, and environmental and socioeconomic conditions. Yet, a significant knowledge gap remains regarding the precise epidemiology and severity of the disease, in large part due to the asymptomatic nature of the infection. To address this, the Sri Lanka College of Dermatology (SLCD) aims to establish a national digital leishmaniasis registry. Through this initiative, they hope to improve leishmaniasis's detection, reporting and management. The data collected will also be used to develop public awareness workshops and resources to help mitigate the spread of the disease.

With the support of the Association of Professors of Dermatology, Pasha aims to expand its 2020 online dermatological programme, where Nepalese and Tajik established links to improve cooperation and knowledge sharing. During these sessions, Tajik dermatologists from DI Skin Hospital and Referral Centre (DISHARC) presented patient cases, history, and shared differential diagnoses. This was followed by a discussion between dermatologists from Nepal and their counterparts in Tajikistan, with both parties sharing their approaches to diagnosis and treatment – leading to improved diagnosis and treatment for patients. In 2022, they aim to expand the education programme to four additional hospitals, focusing on underserved and rural communities. In doing so, they hope to improve skin health services in Tajikstan further.