Young lawyer with rare skin condition bravely fights to end stigma

Kenya: The scales on her skin first appeared in 2008 after completing secondary school education. Today, Hellen Wangui is grateful that a supportive network of friends and family stood by her when the medical sojourns to tame a skin condition that had afflicted her hands, legs and scalp started.

A study of tissue removed from Wangui’s skin established that she had psoriasis. What was initially treated as a fungal infections by myriad doctors, was later found out to be a skin disease that this year received global acclamation as a non-communicable disease at the World Health Organisation Assembly.