Six-Year Old is Youngest Lupus Patient

Asix-year old is the youngest person diagnosed with Lupus in Fiji. Lupus Foundation Fiji, executive coordinator Una Tuitubou says the Foundation has recorded more than 60 people to be living with the illness in the last two years.

She said close to 34 cases were recorded in the last ten months alone. Eleven succumbed to the disease from 2016 to date- as reported to the foundation.

“It is a known fact that women, have 90 per cent more chances to be diagnosed with the disease and this mostly affects women of child bearing age from 14 to 45-years-old,” Ms Tuitubou said.

She said they will be working with relevant partners and stakeholders around the country to create awareness and inform people on how to treat this potentially deadly disease.

Ms Tuitubou said Lupus was not just affecting those suffering from disease, but it affected family members and communities too.

She said there are no specialist in Fiji that could detect the disease. Gearing up for the Lupus awareness month event in May, Ms Tuitubou said the Foundation will be having a Walk a Mile in my Shoes on May 1 at Albert Park and Syria Park from 5am to 8am.

This will also be held in Nadi and Lautoka on May 8 and in Tavua on May 29.

A Suva FUN Run Activity will be held on May 15 and a Memorial Celebration – Canoe Race in Suva on May 22.

The main event will be the Masquerade Ball, a fundraiser at the Central Cuisine, Laucala from 5pm to 9pm.

Ms Tuitubou also said this was the first step in a plan that the foundation hopes to engage the community and relevant authorities in. “This would allow for the early detection of Lupus and working towards providing the proper treatment and care for sufferers.

“This month-long awareness program is part of our overall plan to create awareness and help those suffering from Lupus, “she said. Lupus is a long-term autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal and healthy tissue. The symptoms of the deadly disease include inflammation, swelling, and damage to the joints, skin, kidneys, blood, heart, and lungs