LFJ launches Lupus Awareness Month public awareness campaign

The Lupus Foundation of Jamaica (LFJ) has officially launched its Lupus Awareness Month public awareness campaign, marking the beginning of a series of events aimed at raising awareness about lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease affecting thousands of Jamaicans.

This year’s campaign launch is of special significance, as it coincides with the foundation ’s 40th anniversary, celebrating four decades of empowering lives, providing support, and driving education and research about lupus in Jamaica.

According to Desiree Tulloch-Reid, president of the Lupus Foundation of Jamaica, over the past four decades, the LFJ has made incredible strides in empowering lives and inspiring hope, which is reflected in their theme for this year: ‘Celebrating 40 Years: Empowering Lives, Inspiring Hope’.

“As a rheumatologist and someone who has served this organisation for 15 of those years, I have witnessed firsthand, the impact that our collective efforts have made. From increasing awareness of this life-altering condition to providing critical education to patients and health professionals, we have changed the landscape for lupus care in Jamaica,” Tulloch-Reid said.

“None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our volunteers, the tireless support of our board members, and the generosity of our sponsors, past and present. To each of you, thank you,” Tulloch-Reid added.

She said, this year’s theme reminded the LFJ of the ongoing work that needs to be done. “Yes, we have made great progress, but there are still too many Jamaicans affected by lupus who face daily battles, battles with their health, with their finances, and with societal stigma. We are here to empower them to thrive, despite these challenges and to inspire hope for a brighter future where lupus is better understood and better managed,” she said.

As the organisation enters the month of activities, Tulloch-Reid is encouraging everyone to get involved. Whether it is by attending one of the key events, like the Laps for Lupus Awareness fundraiser on October 20, or the 40th anniversary awards luncheon on October 31, or by participating in the Hybrid Lupus Symposium on November 3, there is something for everyone to do.

“Wear purple on Fridays, join our social media campaign, donate, or volunteer your time and skills. Every little bit counts, and together, we can continue to make a difference. Let’s use this month to amplify our voices, to advocate for those living with lupus, and to support one another. Thank you all for being part of this incredible journey. I look forward to seeing what we will accomplish in the years to come,” Tulloch-Reid said.

The Lupus Awareness Month 2024 campaign is a month-long outreach programme targeting 1.2 million people, and will include events, community engagement, media interviews, a comprehensive social media campaign and medical professional education.

Sponsors for the campaign include National Health Fund, Wato Gym Wear, Indus Sciences, Wysinco Group, National Housing Trust, Barita Foundation, Autochannel Ltd, Collaborative Care Internal Medicine, Fontana Pharmacy, and Dr Stacy Davis.

ABOUT LUPUS:

• Systemic lupus erythematosus, commonly known as lupus, is a chronic or lifelong disorder of the immune system. The body’s immune system becomes dysfunctional, attacking healthy tissues and leading to illness.

• Any organ or tissue can be affected, sometimes with life-threatening results.

• Lupus occurs mostly in young women, at an average age of 22 years. However, the disease can also affect males, and has been diagnosed in different age groups with up to 20 per cent in children.

• People of African descent living in the Caribbean and North America have the highest prevalence of lupus.

• Lupus patients deal with debilitating symptoms caused by the disease, its complications or even its treatment, disruption caused coping with a serious chronic illness often at the peak of their productive lives, costs of care, medications and monitoring, also difficulty of living with a condition that might be poorly understood by family members, and co-workers or community.

LUPUS SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:

Symptoms may vary a lot from person to person, but can often include fatigue (lack of energy), fever, weight loss, joint pain, rashes (might scar or worsen in the sun), severe hair loss, ulcers (small sores) in nose or mouth, pain in chest or lung when breathing, colour changes in the fingers or toes, or even seizures, memory loss or confusion or stroke. In addition, bruising or bleeding can occur if the blood cells are affected; and kidney involvement might cause leg swelling or elevated blood pressure.

keisha.hill@gleanerjm.comSOURCE: Lupus Foundation of Jamaica