Kingston, Jamaica, October 20, 2021: On Sunday October 31, 2021, Lupus Foundation of Jamaica (“LFJ” or “The Foundation”) will be staging its Annual Lupus Symposium under the theme, Children and Youth with Lupus: Improving Outcomes Through Knowledge & Support, with local and international speakers placing the spotlight on improving treatment and support for this vulnerable group.
The Annual Lupus Symposium has been a flagship event for the LFJ and will be held this year with the support of Sponsors including Title Sponsor National Health Fund. This is the second fully virtual staging, with last year’s virtual event attracting over a thousand live attendees including over a hundred registered medical professionals. The Symposium is again expected to attract strong attendance across Jamaica, as well as regionally and internationally through live streaming on multiple platforms and convenient online registration.
The Annual Lupus Symposium uniquely provides both Continuing Medical Education for a range of health professionals while incorporating subjects of practical interest to patients and the public in a shared learning environment.
Paediatric Lupus expert Prof Earl Silverman of Hospital For Sick Children in Toronto will make the key note presentation on Outcomes in Paediatric Lupus, while a range of topics such as Lupus Kidney Disease in Children, Cutaneous Lupus in Children, The Adolescent with Lupus, as well as Practical Therapeutics and Promoting Adherence will also be presented by local experts.
Aspecial segment called "Making The Difference" will feature a Panel Discussion among individuals and experts representing the various settings in which children with lupus and their families operate, may encounter challenges and might optimally receive support – including school, home, community and health care settings. Other features such as short films, live polling and quizzes, interactive question and answer and music items are expected to further contribute to maximal participant engagement. Attendees can register in advance on the Foundation’s website for full access to the event and can also view the livestream on their Youtube and Social Media pages.
Lupus a chronic or lifelong autoimmune disease that is widely considered a disease of the Young, with an average age of 22 and up to 20% being diagnosed as children. Lupus in this age group can be severe, with more frequent involvement of internal organ systems such as kidney, blood and nervous system. According president of the Foundation Dr Desiree Tulloch-Reid, early recognition and treatment are critical in the management of lupus; however there can be a range of other factors that can affect outcomes and quality of life of children and youth with lupus and their families: “Access to appropriate care, impact of disease or treatment on appearance or participation in school, extra-curricular or social activities, understanding of the disease and treatment, treatment adherence, financial challenges, mental health and family dynamics can also have an impact. These are some of the issues we will seek to uncover and address during the conference by sharing practical and immediate solutions to empower those present while also identifying other areas for special intervention.”
The Lupus Symposium represents the culmination of a month-long public awareness campaign in October, Lupus Awareness Month. Aimed at increasing awareness, reducing stigma and encouraging greater support particularly for young persons living with lupus and their families, the Campaign has comprised of articles, media interviews by lupus patients and health professionals, a series of online Events, an ongoing Social Media campaign, and a range of community engagement activities – such as Put On Purple Fridays and a Children & Youth’s Poster Competition.
The public is invited to visit the LFJ website or social media pages, or contact their Learning Centre for more information about events and activities, the work the Foundation is doing, and guidance on how to join, donate or volunteer.
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Lupus Foundation of Jamaica is a member-based, volunteer-run charity in operation since 1984 dedicated to improving the lives and outcomes of persons with lupus through information, support, advocacy and research. To Learn more about the work the LFJ is doing, visit website and social media pages:
website: www.lupusfoundationofjamaica.orgFacebook | YouTube | Instagram | LinkedIn
or to contact their Learning Centre at 7 Barbados Avenue, Kingston 5, Phone:876-754-8458, Helpline: 876-778-3892 email:info@lupusfoundationjamaica.org
For more information about this article, contact Dr Desiree Tulloch-Reid at rheumjamaica@ymail.com or 8765744954.
