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April 7 is World Health Day, a date aimed at creating awareness of specific health concerns at the international level. Some people are able to live healthier lives and have better access to health services than others, depending entirely on circumstantial causes such as where they are born, grow, live, work, and age. Many of these situations are preventable if leaders strive to monitor health inequities and ensure that all people can access quality health services when and where they need them.
Health for All, regardless of where people are from, should be the number one goal of countries in all regions of the world. But the reality is that millions of people are still undertreated or have no access at all to health care. Millions more are forced to choose between health care and food, clothing, or even a home.
As the case for most neglected diseases, inaccessibility to treatment, or the implementation of low-cost alternative ineffective solutions, can cause the progression of Lymphedema, Lipedema, or Chronic Venous Insufficiency toward very severe stages, which means suffering serious infections, disfigurement, disability, loss of income, and even social discrimination for those affected. People should be taught to recognize symptoms and know when to see a physician for diagnosis, and national health systems give access to adequate treatment for these conditions.
Lymphedema, Lipedema, or Venous Insufficiency are diseases that affect the skin which cause inflammation, and can lead to skin changes and infections, disfigurement, and physical impairment (Physical Disability). Scientific studies highlight the importance and implications of compression therapy in controlling the progression of these diseases. Clinical outcomes on interventions to manage these conditions show that simple hygiene-based measures are necessary, but these alone are not enough to control their progression.
Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) and Compression Garments, considered the “Gold Standard” first-line non-surgical treatment, improve the conditions greatly in the majority of cases, thus preventing the need for debulking techniques. Radical reductive ablative surgery (Charles Procedure), aimed to remove subcutaneous tissue, should always be the last option.
The United Nations General Assembly endorsed a resolution ( 72/138) urging countries to aim towards the goal that everyone, everywhere, should have access to quality health care. Millions of people all over the world are suffering from nontreatment or undertreatment of Lymphedema, Lipedema, or Chronic Venous Insufficiency, and are still waiting for correct and effective health care, and many of them are already in the very severe stages (Elephantiasis).
