Sharks jersey partner Zambrero will this weekend give up their back of jersey branding to ‘One Disease’ an organisation aiming to eliminate the disease crusted scabies, from Australia’s remote Indigenous communities.
Founded by Dr Sam Prince and a part of the Prince Group portfolio, which also includes Sharks corporate partner Zambrero, One Disease works alongside disease experts and remote communities to eliminate crusted scabies following our evidence-based Crusted Scabies Elimination Plan.
On Sunday, with the Sharks to play the Gold Coast Titans in their specially designed indigenous jersey, the One Disease branding will feature on the top back of the NRL playing strip in looking to bring recognition and awareness to the exceptional work they do.
While the exciting partnership between the Sharks and the non-profit organisation One Disease may seem new, the connection goes back several years, with Joshua, the son of One Disease’s health promotion officer, Geoffrey ‘Jacko’ Angeles, a former teammate of Jesse Ramien at the Wyong Roos back in 2011.
And come Sunday at the NRL Indigenous Round when the Sharks tackle the Titans in Coffs Harbour, ‘Jacko’ will proudly attend the game representing One Disease.
Born and raised in Darwin, Jacko is a Gurindji descendent and Kungarakan ‘Paperbark’ Man of the Litchfield National Park region. His work at One Disease is directly supporting the achievement of the organisation’s mission, which is to eliminate crusted scabies as a public health concern from Australia by the end of 2022.
Rarely seen in mainstream Australia, the remote Indigenous communities of the Northern Territory have the highest reported rate of crusted scabies in the world.
It is a debilitating, highly contagious disease undermining the health of Indigenous Australians.
Crusted scabies develops from cases of untreated simple scabies. The scabies mites can reproduce at an alarming rate when present on people with lowered immunity. In such people it is common for hundreds of thousands of mites to be present, burrowing under the skin and causing severe pain and the skin deformation known as crusted scabies.
Through secondary infections, simple scabies and crusted scabies can lead to rheumatic heart fever, heart disease, renal disease, and ultimately, premature death.
Working together with Indigenous communities employing two-way learning and communication, One Disease is close to achieving its mission as the recurrence rate of crusted scabies is currently very low.
Now One Disease’s focus is on curbing simple scabies through education, advocacy, a media campaign and with some awareness created by the Sharks proudly displaying the organisation’s branding on their jerseys this weekend.
It is crucial that scabies is controlled, which will further assist in closing the health disparity gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
In support of One Disease the Sharks will also host a lunch at the Zambrero Restaurant in Coffs Harbour on Friday afternoon, with staff from One Disease and the Galambila Aboriginal Medical Service, including Aboriginal Health Workers, nurses and community service providers invited to attend.
Zambrero CEO Matt Kenny will welcome the special guests, who will include Geoffrey ‘Jacko’ Angeles, One Disease’s Health Promotion Officer.
