Events - World lupus day

May 10th is World Lupus Day!

May 10th is World Lupus Day!

More than five million people, mostly women, face an unpredictable future as they struggle daily with the often debilitating health consequences of lupus, a potentially life-threatening autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack the body’s own healthy tissue. Facing the potential of strokes, heart attacks, disabling pain and fatigue, disfiguring skin rashes, and other serious health problems associated with the chronic disease – often in the prime years of life – people with lupus from around the globe have banded together to call for more research on lupus, safer and more effective treatments for the disease, and improved healthcare for those affected by lupus. An international call-to-action has been issued by lupus organizations based in countries around the world to conduct the annual observance of World Lupus Day on May 10th 2011.

The World Lupus Day Proclamation was first developed in 2004 and is a call to action for governments around the world to increase their financial support for lupus research, awareness and patient services. Each year, the Steering Committee revises the Proclamation to reflect the emerging issues that people with lupus around the world must face every day. The Proclamation serves to give a single voice to all individuals affected by this devastating and debilitating chronic disease.

The World Lupus Day Proclamation

Please join the international lupus community in urging your government to adopt and issue the World Lupus Day Proclamation.

Whereas, lupus is an autoimmune disease that can cause severe damage to the tissue and organs in the body and, in some cases, death; and

Whereas, more than five million people worldwide suffer the devastating effects of this disease and each year over a hundred thousand young women, men and children are newly diagnosed with lupus, the great majority of whom are women of childbearing age; and

Whereas, medical research efforts into lupus and the discovery of safer, more effective treatments for lupus patients are under-funded in comparison with diseases of comparable magnitude and severity; and

Whereas, many physicians worldwide are unaware of symptoms and health effects of lupus, causing people with lupus to suffer for many years before they obtain a correct diagnosis and medical treatment; and

Whereas, there is a deep, unmet need worldwide to educate and support individuals and families affected by lupus; and

Whereas, there is an urgent need to increase awareness in communities worldwide of the debilitating impact of lupus;

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved that 10 May 2011 is hereby designated as World Lupus Day on which lupus organizations around the globe call for increases in public and private sector funding for medical research on lupus, targeted education programs for health professionals, patients and the public, and worldwide recognition of lupus as a significant public health issue.

Why Observe World Lupus Day on May 10th?

Increasingly, efforts to identify a cause and cure for lupus are being coordinated on the international level. Multiple lupus clinics around the world are collaborating on studies and clinical trials of potential new therapies. World Lupus Day provides both a day and a forum for various findings to be shared with the global lupus community. In addition, observing World Lupus Day offers lupus patients the comfort of knowing their condition is recognized and being addressed on a global level. Visit www.worldlupusday.org to learn more.

“Having Lupus directly affecting my family makes it easy to be involved with Lupus Canada — but I stay because of all the fabulous work they do” Patrick McKenna, Lupus Canada Ambassador, Actor.

In provinces across Canada, Walk for Lupus www.walkforlupus.ca events will be held in May and June to raise awareness and funds for lupus and lupus research. Together Lupus Canada, its Member Organizations and Divisions are working together to conquer lupus. For additional information about our national effort, visit www.lupuscanada.org.