NGO kick-starts campaign against lupus

A non-profit organization, Arise Monalisa Foundation (AMF), has commenced a campaign aimed at sensitising Nigerians about lupus.

Lupus is a systemic autoimmune disease whereby the body’s immune system attacks its own healthy tissues and organs.

While lupus affects men and women, research has shown that women of African descent are among those with the greatest risk of contracting the disease.

The foundation which was founded by a veteran actress, and TV show host, Monalisa Chinda-Coker, in a statement, said increased awareness about the disease would help control its impact.

It said some activities lined up to commemorate this year’s World Lupus Day were an awareness walk in Abuja this Saturday and a symposium on Monday with the Ministers of Health and the FCT and stakeholders in the medical and pharmaceutical sector.

The World Lupus Day is marked on May 10, annually and the theme of this year’s commemoration

Lupus Visible”.

The foundation further said it would soon hold a medical outreach in collaboration with Benjamin Olowojebutu Foundation for patients suffering from fibroid, breast lumps, hernia and lipoma.

“The intervention will involve visits to selected states by a team of surgeons led by Dr Benjamin Olowojebutu, a CNN Hero Award nominee, to perform surgeries on the patients with the ailments who cannot afford the cost of surgery,” the statement reads in part.

is:

“Make