An education and prevention project for Ethiopia started up with charity work sponsored by Laboratorios Viñas

On 2 June at a charity dinner held by the Fundación Piel Sana, during the 44th National Congress of the AEDV (Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology) which was held in Zaragoza, the Solidarity Awards were announced and handed over to the winners of the 2016 edition.

For the second year running, the Fundación Piel Sana, the non-profit foundation of the AEDV, together with Laboratorios Viñas, has announced two financial grants for funding two projects for development or healthcare intervention, presented by NGOs, private or non-profit institutions and individuals.

On this occasion, the project entitled “Education and prevention of podoconiosis among the school-age population of Gambo (Ethiopia)” led by Doctors Isabel Belloch and Isabel Belinchón won the €12,000 grant, a prize sponsored by Laboratorios Viñas and which will be used to carry out this healthcare intervention in one of the countries most afflicted by this terrible disease that particularly affects children. Mariona Buxadé, on behalf of Laboratorios Viñas handed over the symbolic charity cheque to the winners and said a few words to those attending the dinner.

Furthermore, the Fundación Piel Sana allocated the €6,000 grant to the Ndundu Project for addressing skin cancer in albinos in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition, during the evening, other prizes were awarded and were celebrated enthusiastically by all those attending.

To opt for these grants, the project has had to meet some basic requirements, the most important of which are as follows:

- identification and specific formulation, which includes realistic expected results, assessment indicators, schedule of actions and budget breakdown;

- meeting real needs;

- aimed at a population and a specific area that is particularly disadvantaged;

- has the support of the local authorities;

- integrated with other actions in progress in the area; and

- of interest for dermatology and has clear and specific health repercussions for dealing with diseases of epidemiological relevance in the area.

The project by Drs. Belloch and Belinchón has met all of these requirements and it stood out from the rest of the proposals that opted for these grants: podoconiosis or endemic elephantiasis is an endemic geochemical disease caused by chronic exposure of bare feet to irritant soil, which is characterised by swelling of the lower limbs which, over time, leads to their disfigurement and to disability. It usually occurs in tropical parts of Africa above 1000 meters, and Ethiopia is estimated to be one of the most affected countries. Its effects increase with age.

The Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV) is a medical association that has been in operation for a century and to which practically all dermatologists in Spain belong. Its aim is to be their meeting point and its purpose is to promote the study of the skin and its diseases to the benefit of patients. In 2007, the AEDV promoted the creation of the Fundación Piel Sana, a non-profit organisation whose purpose is to carry out and support actions that promote improvements in skin health of the population, whether through the generation and dissemination of knowledge regarding prevention, the diagnosis or treatment of its diseases and improving conservation of its health, or through the implementation of specific actions in these areas.

Laboratorios Viñas is celebrating the fact that for the second year running it has been able to award these grants at an event that was attended by a large number of people and, without a doubt, it considers this an excellent way to work in pursuit of solidarity. Dermatology has always been one of the health areas with which the company has had a special connection and commitment.