MARCH 6 / LYMPHEDEMA AWARENESS DAY / 2015 / GALICIAN LYMPHEDEMA ASSOCIATION (SPAIN)

On the 6^th of March, Lymphedema Awareness Day was celebrated in all the Provinces and Reagions of Spain, and internationally in many countries.

In Galicia (North-West Autonomous Region of Spain) the Event took place in Vilagarcia de Arousa (Headquarters of the Galician Association of Lymphedema), where the Manifesto of the Spanish National Federation of Lymphedema-fedeal was read, and in which some of the following  requests are included:

• The creation of real Multidisciplinary  Lymphedema Units in all Public Hospitals.

• Training of public  health professionals in the management of lymphedema.

• Equal and non-discriminatory access to Specialized Units for all patients alike, be they Primary or Secondary Lymphedema.

• Supply of free Orthoprotesic Lymphedema Garments through the National Social Security, as they are an essential for lymphedema, as part of treatment for a chronic and progressive disease.

• Supply of skin ointments through the Social Security, as they are indispensable to avoid serious complications, and for the maintenance of the disease.

• Access to regular Clinical Maintenance Treatment  through the Public Health System. Many patients have to fund their own treatments.

• Publication of a common Clinical Practice Guideline for the entire national territory, following current international consensus, and in cooperation with the National Spanish representation, of Lymphedema patients -FEDEAL.

• Setting standards for evaluating and the recognition of impairment and disability due to lymphedema by the Spanish Health System and Administrations.

The event was attended by a big audience, and with the participation of public political figures and representatives of various organizations.

Articles which may also interest you: 
(Click on the texts)

• WHY IS ELEPHANTIASIS A FORGOTTEN AND NEGLECTED DISEASE

• IS THERE DISTRESS ASSOCIATED TO UNDER-TREATMENT OF LYMPHEDEMA - PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF LYMPHEDEMA

• WHY IS THE WORLD NOT TREATING A TREATABLE DISEASE LIKE LYMPHEDEMA. TURNING A BLIND EYE TO ELEPHANTIASIS

• WHAT IS THE BEST TREATMENT FOR LYMPHEDEMA

• IS LYMPHEDEMA DISABLING - INABILITY TO WORK AND DISABILITY RECOGNITION 

• INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE CORRECT TREATMENT FOR LYMPHEDEMA

• ELEPHANTIASIS IS NOT ONLY LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS 

• CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT CHILD ELEPHANTIASIS DUE TO PRIMARY AND SECONDRY LYMPHEDEMA 

• BEWARE WITH NEW TERMINOLOGY DISCRIBING LYMPHEDEMA TREATMENT

• WHAT KIND OF DOCTOR TREATS LYMPHEDEMA/LYMPHOEDEMA - WHAT TYPE OF DOCTOR IS SPECIALIZED IN LYMPHATIC DYSFUNCTION - WHICH MEDICAL SPECIALITIES ARE RELATED TO LYMPHEDEMA

• FAST TRACK SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY RECOGNITION FOR CHILDREN WITH LYMPHEDEMA

• INTERMITTENT PNEUMATIC COMPRESSION (IPC) PUMP DEVICES. SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS POR LYMPHEDEMA

• BEST PRACTICE PROTOCOL GUIDE FOR LYMPHOEDEMA (in Galician)

• A LYMPHEDEMA STORY - DOCTOR KENNETH GERSHENGORN AND THE MAUREEN DIGAN CLINICAL CASE

• WHY IS A BUTTERFLY THE SYMBOL FOR LYMPHEDEMA

• LYMPHEDEMA - INTERNATIONAL DISEASE CODING AND CLASSIFICATION

• WHAT DOES INTERMITTENT PNEUMATIC COMPRESSION PUMP THERAPY (IPC) DO, AND DOES NOT DO FOR LYMPHEDEMA. 

• WHAT IS PHLEBOLYMPHEDEMA.

• SPANISH LYMPHEDEMA ASSOCIATIONS – UPDATED LIST – PATIENT LYMPHEDEMA ASSOCIATIONS OF SPAIN – SPANISH NATIONAL FEDERATION OF LYMPHEDEMA ASSOCIATIONS