Local lupus advocates will be shining the spotlight on this chronic autoimmune disease on Thursday through a special awareness event.
The inaugural event, which is part of Lupus Awareness Month celebrated annually in May, is a joint initiative between the Health Services Authority and the Facebook group Wings of Hope Lupus Warriors Support Group Cayman Islands.
Reshma Ragoonath, founder of the support group, said she wanted to raise awareness about the disease as those who live with lupus often suffer in silence because it is an “invisible” disease.
“Lupus does not necessarily manifest itself in a way that is easily recognisable to individuals. You can see when someone is hurt or suffering, say when they have a broken leg or arm, but with lupus the impact is internal. It is pain, fatigue and damage to internal organs and that cannot be seen, but it is most certainly felt by lupus patients,” she said.
Ragoonath, who has been living with lupus for the last 13 years, says she hopes the event will not only raise awareness about the disease, but give hope to those battling chronic or acute symptoms every day.
“With events like this lupus awareness event on Thursday, my hope is that the community becomes better informed and educated about lupus, what the disease is about, and is encouraged join the fight to find a cure for the disease,” Ragoonath added.
HSA Medical Director Dr. Delroy Jefferson pointed out that one of the most consistent themes across people with lupus is the often difficult and challenging road to diagnosis that many of them experience.
“There are many reasons lupus is difficult to diagnose, and it can often take years. Low public awareness and understanding of the disease contribute to this,” Jefferson said.
“A person may not realise that the symptoms they are experiencing could be lupus, or how to talk to their doctor about it. If we are going to change the future for people with lupus, we must spread awareness. That is why we are excited to support the Wings of Hope Lupus Support Group this year, to bring greater attention to this condition.”
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define lupus, or systemic lupus erythematosus, as an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, causing widespread inflammation and tissue damage in the affected organs.
The disease can affect the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys and blood vessels.
Statistics on the number of cases of the disease are not readily available here in the Cayman Islands. However, the HSA says during 2021, 90 lupus patients visited the Cayman Islands Hospital.
The Lupus Foundation of America estimates that there are 1.5 million people in the United States living with the disease.
The free awareness event will be held at 4pm on Thursday at the Hibiscus conference room at the hospital.
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