Lupus Awareness Month, October 2023:  Lup-US – You, Me, Us:  Stronger Together

Kingston, Jamaica, October 5, 2022: 

Lupus Foundation of Jamaica (LFJ) kicked off its observation of Lupus Awareness Month, October 2023, under the theme  Lup-US – You, Me, Us:  Stronger Together, with a launch event on Wednesday, October 4 at the Foundation’s Learning & Help Centre at 7 Barbados Avenue, Kingston. 

Mr. Everton Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, National Health Fund, was the keynote speaker at this year’s launch.   “Lupus is known as the silent illness, but it cannot be denied that it is a very serious one,” Anderson said.  “I am proud that as a country we are amplyfing the condition, and the need surrounding it, since Jamaica has one of the highest rate of diagnosis worldwide.”

Miss Jamaica Universe 2023, Dr. Jordanne Levy, General Practioner, made a special appearance. Dr. Levy believes, that support is the number one thing we need to push for. She noted that, “having a community where we all feel safe, where we all feel heard is very important, so what the Lupus Foundation is doing is very commendable in providing that community for people to feel seen and feel heard.”

Lupus is a serious autoimmune disease affecting an estimated 6000 Jamaicans, often with life-threatening complications.  Dr Desiree Tulloch-Reid, Consultant Rheumatologist and President of the Foundation, explained that, unlike most other chronic noncommunicable diseases, lupus is considered a disease of the young, with most persons, predominantly females, being diagnosed between ages 15 – 44 years - at the peak of their productive lives – with wide implications for individuals, families, and communities.  In addition to often debilitating symptoms of the disorder, persons with lupus often face delayed diagnosis, difficulty with accessing care, high costs of treatment, as well as the difficulty of living with a condition that may be poorly understood by the persons around them – challenges which can also contribute to risk of poor outcomes.

The theme for Lupus Awareness Month, October 2023,  Lup-US – You, Me, Us:  Stronger Together, is a nod to the cohesive, often sacrificial, efforts of a diverse community, including patients, termed “lupus warriors”, their families, health professionals, volunteers, donors and other supporters that have worked together through the Foundation to make strides in the fight against Lupus.  It is also a call to action for all Jamaicans to raise their awareness of the illness and show support for the persons affected. “Knowledge about lupus saves lives – it dispels stigma, and promotes earlier diagnosis and access to critical treatment and support. The message is louder and goes further when we all speak out together and show our support in tangible ways.”

This year’s Lupus Awareness Month Campaign, a month-long outreach programme targeting 1.2 million persons, will include events, community engagement, media interviews, a comprehensive social media campaign and medical professional and patient education.

Activities planned for LAM 2022 include

• ·      Print and Poster Campaign
• ·      Social Media campaign
• ·      Media interviews and features – television, radio and online interviews
• ·      Community engagement activities including Church Services, Put on Purple Fridays and Campus Awareness Campaign

Key events include

• ·      Oct 5 - a special edition of the Foundation’s free online Q & A programme Ask the Expert Live featuring lupus expert Dr Karen Costenbader of Harvard Medical School /Lupus Foundation of America
• ·      Oct 15 Foundation’s annual fundraising Lapathon event Laps for Lupus Awareness at Emancipation Park
• ·      Oct 22 – free annual Hybrid Lupus Symposium Hybrid focusing on Lupus and Cardiovascular Health.

A series of Print and video features themed "This is Lupus" will also highlight inspiring Lupus warriors who are “surviving and thriving” in spite of lupus.

The Foundation acknowledged the leadership of the National Health Fund (NHF) for significant support to the Lupus community through the inclusion of lupus since 2019 in the Individual Benefits Programme, which provides drug subsidies to persons using private sector pharmacies for critical medications used to treat the illness.  The NHF also operates pharmacies in the Public Sector, where medications are accessed free of charge, and administers the Ministry of Health & Wellness Compassionate Fund, which assists with various healthcare costs on a case-by-case basis.

The participation and endorsement of Miss Jamaica Universe 2023 Dr Jordanne Levy, also a medical doctor, is also expected to provide an added thrust to the campaign.

Major sponsors of the campaign include Partners Interventions Centre of Jamaica, National Health Fund, Medical Products Limited, and Ipca Laboratories.

The Foundation is inviting Corporate Jamaica as well as the wider public to support the effort by donating, volunteering, and participating in all events and to learn more by visiting the Foundation's website and social media platforms.

Lupus Foundation of Jamaica is a volunteer-run, member-based, charitable organization in operation since 1984 and has been at the forefront of efforts to improve the survival, outcomes and quality of life of Jamaicans affected by lupus through information, support, and advocacy. This is done through a range of programmes and activities in support of Lupus warriors including medical professional education, public education campaigns, Help Centre, online digital library, coaching, counselling, support groups, newsletter, medical expense assistance, access to health professionals, advocating for access to care and medications, and promotion of patient-centred research.