Dermatology in Africa: an Experience from Malawi

ABSTRACT

From many years people in Africa suffering from skin conditions have received scant attention. Skin diseases seldom run a fatal course; but often cause decreased ability for work and are most unpleasant for the patient. Many surveys from western countries and a few from African countries have shown that 10 per cent of persons seeking medical attention are suffering from a skin condition. During a survey in Guinea-Bissau in 1992 children and adults in randomly selected households had their skin investigated by a dermatologist. 30 per cent were diagnosed as having a skin condition requiring treatment. In Malawi skin conditions have been shown to be the fourth most common reason for people to seek medical advice. By far the greatest number of skin conditions encountered are easily recognised and can be treated at very low costs. However; the problem for the dermatological patients in most African countries remains; that the only possibility for treatment is in community health centres or in the outpatient clinic of a district hospital. The staff of these clinics often have insufficient training in diagnosing even the most common skin conditions and in most cases the simple cheap remedies needed for treatment are not available