Coinciding with World Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) Day, which is celebrated every May 5, Ferrer and the European Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA Europe) have launched the PHantasticals awareness campaign, an initiative that seeks to raise awareness among citizens about rare and chronic pathologies in the area of vascular and interstitial lung diseases and, later, also in the field of neurological disorders.
The campaign stars the PHantasticals creatures, beings characterized by being very rare and extraordinary, unique and, of course, fantastic. Along with the qualities that make these creatures special, they all have something in common: they are strong, resilient and often go unnoticed. So do people living with rare, serious, and debilitating vascular and interstitial lung diseases.
In this first phase of the campaign, the mermaids PHoebe, PAHola and PHILipa have come to life, three mythological beings that help to understand what Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) is and two of its subtypes: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Pulmonary Hypertension due to Interstitial Lung Disease (PAH and PH-ILD). Through the www.phantasticals.com website, the mermaids explain the main aspects of the three pathologies, emphasizing their low prevalence, symptoms, diagnosis and possible treatments.
In addition, the portal includes statements and testimonies from people living with the disease, so that citizens understand the difficulties they face daily and the challenges that both they and the health systems have ahead. One example is that most people take for granted that they have the ability to breathe, while people living with PH do not.
According to Gergely Meszaros, Project Manager at PHA Europe, "We need awareness campaigns aimed at primary care health professionals to speed up the diagnosis of people living with pulmonary hypertension, but campaigns aimed at the general population are also essential to improve acceptance and understanding of this sometimes invisible disease."
The project is part of Ferrer's mission to provide significant differential value to people suffering from serious illnesses. As a result of the knowledge and experience acquired, Ferrer directs its efforts to the development of products in two main therapeutic areas: vascular and interstitial lung diseases and neurological disorders.
According to Oscar Pérez, Head of Marketing, Market Access and Business Development at Ferrer, "this campaign is very much in line with our purpose of generating a positive impact on society. People living with any of the forms of pulmonary hypertension often go unnoticed due to the high level of ignorance about these pathologies. With projects such as Phantasticals, our intention is to contribute to the dissemination of information about pulmonary hypertension and its typologies, in addition to showing our unwavering commitment to people living with these diseases and their families."
Campaign open to participation on Instagram
To participate in the campaign and help raise awareness about pulmonary hypertension, an Instagram filter has also been created with the international symbol of the disease, blue lips. For each photograph published on social networks, including the hashtags #WeBelieveInPHantasticals, #WorldPHDay and #TogetherStronger, one euro will be donated to PHA Europe, one of the patient associations that support the initiative, up to a maximum amount of €5,000.
In Spain, the campaign is also supported by the Foundation Against Pulmonary Hypertension, the National Association of Pulmonary Hypertension (ANHP) and the Spanish Pulmonary Hypertension Association (HPE-ORG).
The campaign focused on pulmonary hypertension will last throughout the month of May, both on the www.phantasticals.com website and through social networks. Later, in the second phase of Phantasticals, scheduled for the month of June, other fantastic creatures will come to life to help with the awareness of neurological disorders.
