The Malta Eczema Society is a non-governmental non-profit organisation. It was set up in 2001 to help those with eczema and their families. It aims to provide support, information and practical advice via public talks and other activities and to increase awareness about eczema and the problems it may cause. The society has organized regular public talks about eczema by prominent local dermatologists and other speakers. We also give practical advice through our website and social media channels.
In Malta there are between 10% and 15% of children and about 5% of adults suffering from eczema.
The Malta Eczema Society relies solely on donations and fundraising events in order to support patients.
The Malta Eczema Society has been working hard for over twenty years to give information about eczema for a better quality of life for patients and their caregivers. We also work hard to give a voice for people with eczema by raising awareness about the condition and campaign for better medical care.
September 14th is World Eczema Day and together with other countries around the world we have been conducting an annual campaign to give more information about this condition and to help people understand that skin diseases are as important as other diseases.
- 2003 – Survey of teachers in Maltese schools to assess eczema awareness. The survey confirmed widespread misconceptions e.g. more than 10% of teachers wrongly thought that eczema is contagious and many did not know about its career implications. Subsequently an informative article about eczema was published in ‘The Teacher’ magazine and lectures were given to Guidance and Health & Safety teachers.
- 2006 – Publication of 40-page eczema information booklet about eczema for patients in English & Maltese. Click here to download.
- 2007 – Website set up: http://mes.madv.org.mt
- 2008 – Malta Eczema Society joined the Malta Health Network (network of NGOs & Patient support groups).
- 2018 – Malta Eczema Society joined the International Alliance of Dermatology Patients Organizations to advocate and give a voice on an international level for our patients
- 2018 – Malta Eczema Society joined representatives of other countries in Utrecht, Holland for the Georg Rajka Symposium organized by the International Society of Atopic Dermatitis (ISAD).
- 2019 – Malta Eczema Society attended workshops for advocacy organized by Global Skin in Madrid and Milan. Where our secretary Melissa Zarb shared her quality of life and burdens with living with eczema.
- 2023 – Malta Eczema Society joined the Global Allergy and Airway Patient Platform as most eczema sufferers also develop different types of allergies .
- 2023 – Malta Eczema Society attended the International Alliance of Dermatology Patients Organizations ELEVATE 2023 Conference
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Meet our team
Dr M.J. Boffa
President
Consultant Dermatologist and Chairman of the Department of Dermatology, Mater Dei Hospital, Malta, Senior Lecturer in Dermatology at the University of Malta and Visiting Professor at the University of South Wales, UK. He is currently Vice-President and was previously (2016-2022) President of the Maltese Association of Dermatology and Venereology. He is an elected member of the Malta Medical Council and was Board Director representing Malta (2009-2015) in the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) and Chairman of the EADV Honours & Awards Committee (2015-2019).
Dr Boffa was instrumental in the setting up of the Malta Eczema Society in 2001 and has been its President since then. Dr Boffa is married to Véronique and has 3 children.
Mrs M. Zarb
Secretary
Mrs. Melissa Zarb’s personal experience as an eczema patient and her commitment to patient advocacy are truly admirable. Living with eczema throughout her life has likely given her a profound understanding of the physical and emotional challenges that individuals with eczema face daily.
Being a mother and dealing with eczema can be particularly challenging, as it adds another layer of responsibility and concern to an already demanding condition. Melissa’s willingness to share her own experiences through interviews with both local and international press is instrumental in increasing awareness and understanding of eczema. Her advocacy work not only helps those currently suffering from eczema but also contributes to educating the broader community about the disease.
Melissa Zarb’s efforts are invaluable in reducing stigma, promoting empathy, and providing support to individuals and families dealing with eczema. Her work is instrumental in advancing awareness and understanding of the condition, potentially leading to improved resources and support for those living with eczema.
Mrs J. Vella
Treasurer
Jackie’s dedication to learning about eczema and her commitment to improving her daughter’s quality of life is both admirable and inspiring. It’s not easy for parents to see their children suffer from chronic conditions, and her proactive approach to seeking knowledge and support for her daughter’s eczema is commendable.
Her involvement with the Malta Eczema Society, starting from its inception, shows her passion for making a difference in the lives of individuals affected by eczema in her community. Serving as an executive committee member responsible for public relations and later as the treasurer in 2022, Jackie has played a vital role in the society’s growth and success. Her background as an export brand manager might have provided her with skills and insights that are valuable in her roles within the society.
Jackie’s story is a testament to the power of personal dedication and advocacy in helping individuals and families affected by eczema. Her efforts within the Malta Eczema Society likely have a positive impact on raising awareness, providing support, and improving the lives of those dealing with eczema in her region.
Mrs M. Bongalais
Marlene Bongalais’s long-standing commitment to the Malta Eczema Society is commendable. Joining the society when it was founded demonstrates her dedication to the cause of eczema advocacy and support from the very beginning. Her personal connection to the condition, as her daughter suffered from eczema, likely fueled her passion for this important work.
While she resigned from her post as Treasurer three years ago, her continued involvement as part of the Executive committee indicates that she remains actively engaged in the society’s activities and mission. Marlene’s experience as a parent of a child with eczema likely gives her valuable insights into the challenges that families face when dealing with this condition, and her contributions to the society have likely been impactful in raising awareness and providing support to those affected by eczema in Malta.
Mrs J. Borg
Mrs. Joyce Borg’s involvement with the Malta Eczema Society as a Committee executive for over two decades highlights her unwavering commitment to the cause. Her role as a fundraising events organizer is crucial in supporting the society’s activities and initiatives related to eczema awareness and advocacy.
As a mother of a son with severe eczema, Joyce has a deep personal understanding of the challenges faced by individuals and families dealing with this condition. Her dedication to raising awareness about eczema and its impacts is driven by her firsthand experience, making her a powerful advocate for the cause.
Beyond her work with the society, Joyce’s personal life reveals her interests and values. Her love for painting, baking, and enjoying long walks in the countryside provides a well-rounded perspective on her character. Her favorite quote, “Be yourself, everybody else is taken,” reflects her authenticity and the unique perspective she brings to her advocacy and her role within the Malta Eczema Society. It’s clear that Joyce’s contributions have made a significant difference in the lives of those affected by eczema in her community.
Wayne Zammit
Wayne is a new committee member of the Malta Eczema Society, having joined in 2023. He has suffered from eczema since the age of 4, and his aim is to work towards making it easier for others with eczema to access the medications and assistance they require. Wayne is actively assisting the Malta Eczema Society in preparing events and recently participated in an interview with Euronews to discuss his experience with eczema.
Helping you since 2001
The Malta Eczema Society was set up in 2001 to help those with eczema and their families. The need for such a group in Malta, as found in other countries, had been felt for a long time. The society aims to help by providing support, information and practical advice via public talks and other activities and to increase awareness about eczema and the problems it may cause.
The Malta Eczema Society has also repeatedly lobbied the Maltese Health Authorities regarding entitlement for free medication for eczema sufferers. Until recently, patients with eczema, unlike those with other chronic conditions, were not eligible for any free medication for their condition no matter how severe and chronic it was because eczema was not included in the Schedule V list of chronic diseases. This was very unfair and discriminatory.
We are pleased to note that in 2021 the Schedule V list was amended to include patients with severe chronic forms of eczema. This was a big step in the right direction. However it is disappointing that new effective medications for severe eczema such as dupilumab and JAK inhibitors, which have been used in other countries for several years, are still not available in Malta. It is hoped that these will now become available here too. The MES will continue to insist that available funds should be utilised according to patients’ needs and that patients should not be discriminated according to which chronic disease they are unlucky enough to have. Eczema sufferers pay taxes like everyone else and should be given the assistance they deserve like other patients.
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