The Group 1 of UTAR Public Relations Corporate Social Responsibility (PR CSR) Project 2023, “DermaHope”, visited a total of six districts in their series of roadshows “Journey to the Hope” to promote the Malaysian Skin Foundation (MSF) and spread awareness about the severity of skin diseases to the general public.

The 32 zealous committee members of DermaHope visited Kampar, George Town, Sitiawan, Ipoh, Taiping and Kuala Lumpur from 13 March 2023 to 1 April 2023. Throughout the roadshows, the members interviewed more than 50 individuals using a set of meticulously-designed questions. The main purpose of the interviews was to gauge the interviewees’ understanding of common skin diseases. Moreover, the interview sessions allowed the interviewees to learn more about skin diseases as well as various supports towards affected patients.
DermaHope learned that the majority of Malaysians have little understanding about skin diseases and their severity. “I have no idea about the topic of skin diseases. I don’t think it’s a serious disease compared to cancer or other diseases,” said one of the interviewees, Tan.

Among them, some interviewees viewed skin diseases as public health concerns. Fariza, one of the interviewees, commented, “People lack knowledge in skin diseases compared to other diseases such as cancer. No matter the race, we are Malaysians. We should show our support to this kind of campaign and assist one another in alleviating skin diseases in Malaysia.”

Another interviewee Renuga, who is also a victim of skin disease, said, “I was recently diagnosed with autoimmune disease. The disease leaves marks on my skin. Therefore, I will support this kind of campaign that will help people who are facing issues with their skin.”

The roadshows successfully garnered supporters from various areas in Malaysia. Not only did they build support for the well-being of skin disease patients, but the roadshows were also a fulfilling experience for the committee members of DermaHope. DermaHope Assistant Head of Programme Department Chin Wei Qi enthused, “We are thrilled with the successes of our roadshows, which were aimed to raise awareness of skin diseases and promote healthy skin practices. We believe that education and awareness are critical in the fight against skin diseases, hence, we commit ourselves to do our part in promoting them.”

About DermaHope

DermaHope is a project by Group 1 of UTAR Public Relations Corporate Social Responsibility (PR CSR) Project 2023. The group is guided by UTAR PR CSR Project 2023 Project Advisor Diong Fong Wei. DermaHope is formed by 32 PR students who are passionate to promote the Malaysian Skin Foundation (MSF) and highlight the issues of unmet healthcare and sociological needs of individuals who suffer from skin diseases.

About Malaysian Skin Foundation (MSF)

Malaysian Skin Foundation (MSF) is a non-profit organisation founded by a group of concerned dermatologists with the intention to raise the standard of care for patients suffering from skin diseases. It was officially incorporated on 7 April 2022 upon approval from the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister under section 45(3) Companies Act 2016. Being a nascent organisation, the immediate task is to introduce the foundation to the general public and raise awareness of the negative psychosocial impact of skin diseases on affected individuals by establishing a subsidy programme to improve treatment access. This initiative, therefore, will be heavily dependent on public funding to function and continue. For more information about Malaysian Skin Foundation and skin conditions, please visit https://malaysianskinfoundation.org/