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A seminar on gardens for the health of the skin
Author(s) -
Ryan Terence J.,
Matts Paul J.,
Snyder Brad,
Orr Vanya
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
international journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-4632
pISSN - 0011-9059
DOI - 10.1111/ijd.12388
Subject(s) - medicine , psychological intervention , attendance , firewood , attractiveness , health care , unemployment , hygiene , gerontology , nursing , family medicine , environmental health , economic growth , pathology , economics , psychology , archaeology , psychoanalysis , history
This is a report on a seminar held on J anuary 12, 2013, at the R egional D ermatology T raining C entre in T anzania, sponsored by the I nternational S ociety of D ermatology as part of its T askforce P rogram for S kin C are for A ll: C ommunity D ermatology . There were four themes: (i) Gardens attached to health centers increase their attractiveness and result in increased attendance and, thus, increase the utilization of effective skin care interventions. Literature on the positive effect of greenery surrounding health centers on health and the environment is reviewed. (ii) Adding an expert on agriculture to the staff of health centers in R wanda has provided nutrition and safe medicines. (iii) In southern I ndia, these interventions are channeled through the empowerment of tribal women in an area noted for anxiety due to unemployment in the tea and forestry industry. The gardens are used for teaching about nutrition and herbal medicines, and the women are further attracted by childcare facilities. (iv) Measuring barrier function defects gives early warning of malnutrition of the skin after damage by trauma or by ultraviolet radiation. Higher cost research techniques may help to provide the science required to produce its evidence base. In conclusion, G ardens for health should be adopted as policy by skin care providers.