Board in bid to assist eczema sufferers

formed Eczema Association of Zimbabwe Trust projects manager Mrs Lucia Nyakumbi said they had lined up a number of events to start work towards assisting affected children.

Mrs Nyakumbi said they will begin with a fund-raising dinner dance.
The dinner dance will be held on May 25.
“We intend to raise about US$15 000 to enable us to carry awareness campaigns, buy creams and soaps for the affected children throughout the country,” she said.
Tickets for the dinner dance will cost US$60 each while couples will pay US$100.

The dinner dance will be held under the theme “Stop eczema, reduce itchiness”.
“Everyone is invited to this function. Our appeal to the people of Zimbabwe is please come and support this worthy cause,” she said.

Mrs Nyakumbi said most people with children suffering from eczema find it difficult to control and manage the condition because of the high costs associated with the special creams and dermatologically tested soaps.
A tube of the recommended cream costs an average of US$11 and this lasts for only a week.

The creams are, however, expected to be applied to the affected parts everyday to reduce itchiness and successfully manage and control the condition.
Projects officer with the association Ms Maureen Potwayo said it is important to manage and control eczema to prevent sores.
“If the itchiness is not controlled, a child continues to scratch and sometimes develop painful sores,” she said.

“In this era of HIV and Aids, the sores can be mistaken to Aids symptoms resulting in stigma on the affected child,” she added.
The association’s official launch will be held on June 1 at the Africa Unity Square. Eczema is an itchy, red rash, which normally appears on the neck, elbow and back of the knees but sometimes can affect the whole body.

Babies often have eczema on the face, especially the cheeks and chin, scalp, chest and back, outer arms and legs. Children and adults tend to have eczema on the neck, wrists, ankles, elbow and knees. It is common in children and symptoms become less severe as children grow into adults.
Eczema is triggered by certain soaps, detergents, disinfectants, foods with preservatives such as canned foods, bottled foods, foil packed foods, pets, pollens and even dandruff among others.