8 th National skin Disease Detection and Prevention Week
(Skinweek) and Health Education Reform Order program (HERO)
November 11-17, 2007

The National Skin Disease Detection and Prevention Week (SKINWEEK) is a week-long nationwide campaign to uplift the health status of Filipinos through patient education and early skin disease detection and prevention by proper dermatologic care. This is in line with the Philippine Dermatological Society's (PDS) mission-vision to lead the country in the attainment of healthy skin for Filipinos through service, training and research activities.

SKINWEEK contains many activities that benefit the general public in many areas of the Philippines , through emphasis of the importance of the skin in overall health, focus on basic skin hygiene, through teaching skin self-examination and the need for seeking early care and management of skin diseases from trained dermatologists. Activities of the week also aim to achieve the 4 components of SKINWEEK, namely: (1) community outreach, (2)education and information campaign directed to the general public, (3) research, and (4) continuing medical education. This encompasses the following: the Annual PDS Convention and Pre-convention Workshops, Resident's Research Forum, Scientific Poster Contest, Educational Poster Exhibits, public health lectures, and free clinics. The Society's untiring efforts are ultimately aimed at uplifting the health status, especially of marginalized Filipinos, through patient education and proper dermatologic care.

THE HERO (Health Education Reform Order) PROGRAM

On December 27, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order No. 595 known as the “Health Education Reform Order of 2006 (HERO of 2006) which aims to ensure an effective and efficient public health awareness campaign for the prevention of common diseases through the educational system and to come up with an effective health education curriculum through provision of modules on basic preventive health care. Through this order, the Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS), under the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) shall participate in this education and awareness program on common diseases which covers the health curriculum of schools all over the country. In line with this, the PDS has decided to concentrate on the diagnosis, management and prevention of Pediculosis capitis, which, according to a recent study by the Department of Education (DepEd), is the third most prevalent condition among school children.

The project started with an initial meeting with PCP Regent Dr . Anthony Leachon last August 31, 2007. A series of meetings and consultations followed, participated in by Dr. Arnelfa Paliza, Dr. Roberta Romero, Dr. Socouer Oblepias, Dr. Coco Toledo, Dr. Marivic Cabillos, as well as representatives from GlaxoSmithKline, Inc. (GSK) and Pharmline Medforce, our industry partners. Consultation with Department of Education representatives was also conducted. PDS also decided on its project theme: “Ang Batang Walang Kuto, Mas Madaling Matuto”.

Accordingly, PDS volunteer members carried out the following activities:

• Conducted lectures/lay fora for parents and teachers in selected public schools regarding the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Pediculosis capitits. (A Power Point module on Pediculosis capitates, focusing on its curative and preventive aspects was provided by PDS).
  
• Examined and treated school children with Pediculosis capitis, as prescreened by school nurses and/or teachers
  
• Put up and displayed posters regarding prevention of Pediculosis capitis in these schools, as a mark that they have been visited by PDS members and has participated in the HERO project.

Lectures were conducted in different public elementary schools nationwide which kicked-off at the Pasig Elementary School last November 10, 2007 and continued until the last week of December 2007. A total of 33 schools were visited nationwide, participated in by more than 50 PDS members and beneficiaries of our 5800 participants, including teachers, nurses, parents and students. As a first time project, there were rough roads along the way but undoubtedly, SKINWEEK through its HERO program made a very successful and positive impact among the different public elementary schools nationwide. Parents and teachers were one in saying that this campaign was very informative and they were able to gain more knowledge about Pediculosis capitis and how to treat and prevent the disease. Again, to all those who contributed and helped in one way or another to make this a success, I send my gratitude and God's blessings to everyone.