In rural Ghana, when a local health center struggles to diagnose a skin condition, the call often goes to Patrick Davies. Though not a medical professional, Davies leads the Gate Foundation, a community-based organization in Ankaful dedicated to supporting people with neglected tropical skin diseases like leprosy and Buruli ulcer. These conditions, if untreated, can cause severe disabilities. “There are no trained doctors or diagnostic tools, so they rely on my field experience,” Davies told EL PAÍS.
That changed last week when the World Health Assembly adopted a landmark resolution recognizing skin diseases as a global health issue. Backed by Ivory Coast and other countries in the Global South, along with groups like the International Alliance of Dermatology Patient Organizations and Spain’s Anesvad Foundation, the resolution calls on governments to include skin health in universal healthcare plans, train frontline medical workers, and improve access to treatment and diagnosis—especially in underserved and rural areas.
“This resolution is significant because skin diseases place a huge burden on health systems, but are often invisible in global statistics,” said Jennifer Austin, director of GlobalSkin. Citing data from the University of Washington’s 2024 Global Burden of Disease Study published in The Lancet, Austin noted that there are nearly 4.7 billion new skin disease cases each year. Yet in many regions—such as sub-Saharan Africa—there is often less than one dermatologist for every million people.
For Antonie Gliksohn, executive director of the Global Alliance Against Albinism, the resolution sends a powerful message. “It tells the world that skin diseases are not just cosmetic—they affect both physical and mental health,” he said. “Until now, patients were often told that it’s ‘just skin’ and not a serious concern.”
Skin conditions don’t just cause discomfort or cosmetic concerns; they can become life-threatening. Davies recalled a woman in Ghana who died from an undiagnosed skin condition. She had to travel eight hours to the nearest hospital, where she was given instructions for treatment—but the community lacked the resources to follow through.
In South Africa, Toni Roberts, founder of DEBRA South Africa and a patient with epidermolysis bullosa, said that most babies born with the rare skin condition don’t survive. “There’s no training for doctors or nurses to care for them, and we don’t even have data on how many cases exist,” he explained.
The WHO resolution also highlights the sharp inequalities in healthcare access. In Malawi, for example, there are just three dermatologists for over 20 million people, said Gliksohn.
“In my area, people with skin conditions don’t go to hospitals anymore because they know they won’t be helped. They call me instead,” said Davies.
Beyond health, skin conditions can lead to severe social and economic consequences. In some countries, vitiligo can damage a woman’s chances of marriage. In others, people with leprosy or albinism still face intense discrimination. “Stigma can strip people of their social role or employment. It ruins lives,” said Iñigo Lasa, director of the Anesvad Foundation.
Davies added: “Some healthcare workers refuse to touch skin patients out of fear. That hurts more than the illness itself.”
While the resolution marks a major step forward, experts agree that implementation is key. “It’s a great achievement, but unless it leads to real benefits for patients, it doesn’t mean much,” said Kingsley Asiedu, who leads the WHO’s work on neglected tropical diseases.
Some solutions may be relatively simple. Claire Fuller, president of the International League of Dermatological Societies, noted that 80% of skin conditions fall under just ten common diagnoses. “If we train frontline health workers to recognize and treat these, we can make a big impact,” she said.
Gliksohn urged specific policy changes, such as adding sunscreen to the WHO’s list of essential medicines for people with albinism.
Activists acknowledge that the true impact of the resolution will take time to materialize. “Developing public policy and training professionals won’t happen overnight,” said Gliksohn. “But for the first time, millions of people have heard that their skin conditions matter. That recognition alone is long overdue.”
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