Why do we make embarrassing diseases taboo? How to solve the problem of shame and stigma in patients? Can diseases affect anyone? You will find answers to these and many other questions about diseases considered shameful in the next edition of the educational campaign of The Point publishing house – “Embarrassing Diseases – Let’s overcome the Taboo”.
The aim of The Point – “Embarrassing Diseases – Overcome the Taboo” campaign is to build awareness of the society and to start a discussion about the fact that there are still diseases that are taboo for society, and which for a sick patient are associated with a sense of shame, fear of discrimination and loneliness in illness.
The campaign is a response to the need for social education and transfer of knowledge that will allow us to understand that every disease, even the seemingly embarrassing one, is a normal disease that needs to be dealt with.
Thanks to the experts involved in the campaign, we want to present all aspects of the patient’s life, starting from, inter alia, prophylaxis, constant and proper care, up to the optimal innovative treatment and the fight against serious complications.
The whole was published in the press on February 16 as a special thematic supplement in “Gazeta Wyborcza”, in the online version at wpunktozdrowiu.pl and on many portals and events that deal with the subject of diseases commonly regarded as embarrassing.
Articles included in the campaign:
1. We talk to prof. dr hab. n. med. Joanna Maj, Member of the Board of the Polish Dermatological Society in the subject of “Skin diseases. Know, understand, accept.” – p. 2
2. The National Consultant for dermatology and venereology, prof. dr hab. Joanna Narbutt, MD, PhD. – p. 3
3. Dagmara Samselska, President of the Union of Associations of Patients with Psoriasis and Psoriasis, spoke about the difficulties of a patient with psoriasis in the social context – p. 4
4. Patrycja Rzucidło-Zając – Director of Communication and Social Projects and Expert in the field of health communication, I am writing about the daily medical needs of patients with embarrassing diseases – p. 4
5. We talk with prof. dr hab. n. med. Adam Reich – p. 5
6. What is obesity, why is it considered a fatal disease, what can it lead to and treatment options for obese patients in Poland? Experts of the Polish Society for Obesity Research: prof. dr hab. n. med. Magdalena Olszanecka-Glinianowicz, dr hab. n. med. Lucyna Ostrowska, prof. dr hab. med. Paweł Bogdański and dr hab. n. med. Mariusz Wyleżoł – pp. 6 – 7
7. Magdalena Gajda from the Foundation of People with Obesity OD-WAGA awakens the public awareness of obesity – p. 7
8. Prof. dr hab. med. Eugeniusz Józef Kucharz – p. 8
9. How to prevent and fight herpes labialis – see p. 9
10. What is the everyday life of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases like and whether we currently consider them embarrassing diseases, we talk to prof. dr hab. n. med. Grażyna Rydzewska – President of the Polish Society of Gastroenterology and Agnieszka Gołębiewska – President of the Polish Society for Supporting People with Nonspecific Intestinal Inflammation “J-elita” – p. 10
11. Can the embarrassment caused by the current condition of the dentition lead to serious complications in the oral cavity? We talk to Lek. dent. Irmina Materna – p. 11
Substantive partners of the project were, among others The Institute of Patient Rights and Health Education and the Union of Associations of Patients with Psoriasis and PsA.
Medonet became the Media Partner.