It is a pity that not every country has a national eczema association, because such bodies render yeoman services to patients and their care givers alike. The condition affects infants rather often, and parents can be much better equipped to deal with emergent situations, once they are aware of the reasons for eczema, and how one can deal with it. Adults who suffer from the condition also gain by connecting with other sufferers, and with national experts in the field. A well run association provides an enabling forum in which all stakeholders can participate for mutual benefits.
A national eczema association offers diverse information services, ranging from basic awareness inputs about the condition, to the latest research findings and priorities. Specific initiatives can be taken up periodically, while certain basic services are maintained at all times. However, the most valuable feature of such a grouping is that it can respond to the dynamic needs of patients and their care givers. This facility is also helpful to busy doctors who cannot spend all the time they would like with each case, to explain various ramifications of eczema. Patients who suffer from recurrent bouts of eczema can learn about new drug trials.
How You Can Help Your National Eczema Association
Your community needs a chapter of a national eczema association if your country has an overall body already. The Internet makes it possible for any association to function on a global scale, but medical matters are subject to country-specific regulations. Further, there could be many families without regular access to computers, and some aspects of counseling are best conducted in face-to-face sessions anyway. Every association grows in strength as it is able to establish physical groupings in an ever-widening network. Since eczema can result from local antigens, it is important to spread the wings of an association for this condition as widely as possible.
The Eczema and Sensitive Skin Education (EASE) program in the United States is a prime example of the kind of values which a national eczema association can deliver. EASE has already made deep inroads in to helping people and their families cope with eczema. Though the condition is not infectious, skin eruptions may be due to pathogenic transfers. Therefore, EASE has significant public health potential, apart from the direct relief it provides to vulnerable people. Eczema can strike at any time, and may spare no one, so you should participate actively in EASE, and try to design similar programs of your own as well.
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