Lupus awareness Tuitubou: 90pc of people living with it are females
THE Lupus Foundation Fiji (LFF) will be creating awareness for those suffering from Lupus during the month of May.
Fiji will join this global awareness campaign with a range of activities organised around the country, with the theme “Making Lupus Visible”.
LFF executive coordinator Una Tuitubou said this would begin with a Walk a Mile in my Shoes on May 7 at Albert Park from 6am to 8am.
“We will also be celebrating International Lupus Day in Suva on May 10.
“Then our main event will be the Island Night Ball on May 28, a fundraiser at Central Cuisine, Laucala from 5pm to 9pm.”
Ms Tuitubou said the awareness program would be targeting rural villages and settlements.
“We felt these are the vulnerable areas where people are struggling and may not have access to mainstream news.
“It is the first step in a plan that we hope to engage the community and relevant authorities to allow for the early detection of Lupus, and working towards providing the proper treatment and care for Lupus sufferers.”
Ms Tuitubou said Lupus is a longterm autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal and healthy tissues.
“The symptoms of the deadly disease include inflammation, swelling, and damage to the joints, skin, kidneys, blood, heart and lungs.
“It is a known fact that 90 per cent of people living with Lupus are females or women, and those of child bearing age from 14 to 45 years old.”
Ms Tuitubou said thousands of people in Fiji may have the disease, but were unaware because the country did not have a specialised rheumatologist that dealt with this autoimmune disease.