World Vitiligo Day
| World Vitiligo Day | |
|---|---|
| Observed by | Worldwide |
| Begins | 25 June 2011 |
| Date | 25 June |
| Next time | 25 June 2025 |
| Frequency | annual |
The World Vitiligo Day, observed on June 25, is an initiative aimed to build global awareness about vitiligo. Vitiligo occurs in 1–2% of the population worldwide; a change of color in the skin creating a variety of patterns on the skin from the loss of pigment. Vitiligo is often called a disease instead of a disorder and that can have a significant negative social and/or psychological impact on patients, in part because of numerous misconceptions still present in large parts of the world.
The idea of a World Vitiligo Day was first nursed by Steve Haragadon, the founder of the Vitiligo Friends network, and then developed and finalized by Ogo Maduewesi, a Nigerian vitiligo patient who is the founder and Executive Director of the Vitiligo Support and Awareness Foundation (VITSAF). In her words, “World Vitiligo Day is a day to create extensive awareness on vitiligo and a day dedicated to all living with vitiligo globally”.[1] The first World Vitiligo Day (also defined as “Vitiligo Awareness Day” or “Vitiligo Purple Fun day”, from the color chosen as Vitiligo Awareness Color[2]) was observed on June 25, 2011. The choice of June 25 as World Vitiligo Day is a memorial to musical artist Michael Jackson, who suffered from vitiligo from the early 1980s until his death, which occurred on June 25, 2009.[3] The main event of the first World Vitiligo Day occurred at Silverbird Galleria's Artrum in Lagos, Nigeria, with the participation of several volunteers with different experiences (dermatologists, motivational speakers, dancers, artists, comedians, patients), united by the common will of spreading knowledge and awareness about vitiligo. Simultaneously, other events took place in other parts of the world, organized by local associations.
In 2012, Vitiligo Research Foundation (VRF), a non-profit organization aiming to fund and fast-track medical research, as well as connect investigators, care providers, patients and philanthropists, to accelerate vitiligo research and relieve the suffering of patients,[4] registered the Web domain name 25june.org and joined VITSAF and cooperating organizations to increase the efficacy of their efforts in favor of global vitiligo awareness. A goal of the World Vitiligo Day 2012 was to raise 500,000 signatures to address the United Nations in order to:
- recognize this disease associated with severe social complications;
- recognize the desire to pursue multilateral efforts in therapy development and health-care education;
- designate June 25 as the World Vitiligo Day to be observed by the United Nations and Member States every year.
History of World Vitiligo Day Events
[edit]Upcoming Events
[edit]Vitiligo Patient Journey Map at the 100th CDA Annual Conference
Date: June 18–21, 2025
Location: Halifax Convention Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
Details: Poster presentation by Dr. Shahnawaz Towheed, showcasing innovation in patient pathways for dermatology.
World Vitiligo Day 2025 Headquarters
Date: June 25, 2025
Location: Lake Lounge at the MaRS Waterfront, Toronto, ON, Canada
Details: Toronto will host the 15th anniversary of WVD under the banner “Innovation for Every Skin.” We’re putting artificial intelligence at the heart of the conversation and showing it can drive breakthroughs in diagnosis, treatment, and care. And for the first time ever, a medtech team – Skinopathy – is leading the charge to show the world what’s possible when innovation meets purpose. The summit will be AI-focused and led by tech CEO Keith Loo and dermatologist Dr. Jerry Tan. There will also be several grassroots communities for World Vitiligo Day, which encompasses a global network of organizations dedicated to raising awareness, providing support, and advocating for individuals living with vitiligo. In Canada, Vitiligo Voices Canada (VVC) stands as the nation's first support group, offering monthly virtual meetings and online platforms to foster community and share resources. Internationally, the event is supported by groups such as the Vitiligo Research Foundation (VR Foundation), and there will be exciting campaigns such as #Lit4Vit, led by VITFriends, that illuminates landmarks in purple on June 25th to promote awareness. Organizations such as VITSAF in Nigeria and LICDA Africa work to combat stigma and support those affected across the African continent. Together, these initiatives create a cohesive global effort to support the vitiligo community on World Vitiligo Day.
Past Events
[edit]2024
[edit]4th VIPOC Conference
Date: December 13, 2024
Details: Global conference uniting vitiligo patient organizations.
1st Pediatric Dermatology World Congress
Date: October 24, 2024
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Details: Organized by the Argentine Association of Pediatric Dermatology and Gutierrez Children’s Hospital.
Live Broadcast in Kazakhstan
Date: September 27, 2024
Details: Instagram live with Prof. Yan Valle and Dr. Olga Smirnova on vitiligo onset and treatment.
World Vitiligo Day 2024 - Headquarters
Date: June 24, 2024
Location: Cali, Colombia
Details: Conference led under the honorary presidency of Dr. Claudia Arenas and General Secretary Dr. Adriana Cruz
World Vitiligo Day 2024 - France
Date: June 22, 2024
Location: Bordeaux, France
Details: Organized by French Vitiligo Association with St. André Hospital dermatology team.
World Vitiligo Day - USA 2024
Date: June 19–20, 2024
Location: Indianapolis, IN, USA
Details: Featuring Camp Victory and the Vitiligo Physician Education Summit.
Session on Vitiligo at IMCAS
Date: February 1, 2024
Location: Paris, France
Details: Focus session on new vitiligo treatments, in collaboration with Société Marocaine de Dermatologie.
2023
[edit]Revolutionizing Vitiligo (ReV) Virtual Conference
Date: December 10, 2023
Details: CME-accredited virtual conference focused on vitiligo care.
Expert Meeting on Vitiligo
Date: August 24–26, 2023
Location: Bruges, Belgium
Details: Meeting on "New Small Molecules for Treatment of Vitiligo" held by World Health Academy of Integrative Dermatology in Bruges on August 24–26, 2023.
Indoor Rally at the MA State House by VITFriends
Date: June 28, 2023
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Details: State Rep Rob Consalvo, Chair Adrian Madaro (a proud vitiligo warrior), and Chair John Lawn have extended an invitation to VITFriends for an unprecedented indoor rally at the MA State House
World Vitiligo Day 2023 - UK
Date: June 25, 2023
Details: Virtual event organized by Vitiligo Society UK with guest speakers.
World Vitiligo Day 2023 - China
Date: June 25, 2023
Location: First Hospital of China Medical University
Details: Presented by the esteemed Department of Dermatology at the First Hospital of China Medical University. S
World Vitiligo Day 2023 - Mexico
Date: June 25, 2023
Locations: Mexico City, Chihuahua, Monterrey, Guadalajara
Details: The Mexican Vitiligo Foundation has planned a series of events on June 25 in four cities across Mexico, including: Mexico City, Chihuahua, Monterrey, and Guadalajara featuring informative sessions for patients.
World Vitiligo Day 2023 - Headquarters
Date: June 25, 2023
Location: Almaty, Kazakhstan
Theme: "Vitiligo: Looking into the Future"
World Vitiligo Day 2023 - Europe
Date: June 23–26, 2023
Details: The Vitiligo International Patient Organizations Committee (VIPOC) cordially invites European vitiligo patient leaders to attend the World Vitiligo Day conference from June 23–26, 2023.
World Vitiligo Day 2023 - USA
Date: June 23–25, 2023
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Theme: "Acceptance. Treatment. Love."
XII Iasi Dermatological Spring
Date: April 24, 2023
Location: Iasi, Romania
Details: Dermatology experience exchange event.
GVF Annual Scientific Symposium 2023
Date: March 16, 2023
Location: New Orleans, USA
Details: GVF Annual Scientific Symposium 2023 will be held alongside the congress of the American Academy of Dermatology in New Orleans
For a complete list of past events, please visit: https://vrfoundation.org/events
References
[edit]- ^ http://www.facebook.com/notes/ogo-maduewesi/report-vitiligo-purple-fun-day-vitiligo-awareness-day-25th-june-2011/2011494841660 [user-generated source]
- ^ "Support Vitiligo Awareness Day". Archived from the original on 2011-08-16.
- ^ Gopal, B. Madhu (25 June 2020). "'Time to dispel fears over vitiligo'". The Hindu.
- ^ "Home". vrfoundation.org.