Lupus Canada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lupus Canada is a national voluntary organization dedicated to improving the lives of people living with lupus through advocacy, education, public awareness, support and research. Formed in 1987, Lupus Canada is a federally registered non-profit charity and its national office is located in Markham, Ontario.
Lupus Canada works in partnership with regional non-profit organizations (also known as member organizations), which provide Canadians individual memberships and local support in their province.
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[edit] Charitable works
Some of Lupus Canada’s significant achievements and contributions include:
- Working with member organizations to provide lupus resources and support services for all Canadians.
- Providing resource information for people living with lupus through print and online newsletters as well as educational materials, which include posters, information packages, fact sheets and brochures.
- Hosting annual Patient Symposia, which bring together people with lupus, their families and supporters, lupus physicians and researchers, and lupus volunteers from across Canada to share the latest developments and information in lupus research and treatments.
- Conducting an annual observance of World Lupus Day (May 10) and promoting October as Lupus Awareness Month to call national attention to the need for greater research, awareness and patient services.
- Continuing to provide financial support to The Canadian Network for Improved Outcomes in Systemic Lupus (CaNIOS), a Canadian national research group on SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus). Since its inception, CaNIOS has had up to a total of 57 clinicians affiliated with 28 Canadian academic-based rheumatic disease units and community rheumatology clinics, and hundreds of patients participating simultaneously in the research effort.
- Continuing its support for the Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) Fellowship program and Dr. Sasha Bernatsky’s research around the risk of cancer in lupus.
- Continuing its outreach of lupus resources and maintaining lupus awareness among medical professionals, clinicians, online and print media, Aboriginal reserve communities and women’s health networks.
[edit] Lupus statistics
Although it is estimated to affect more than 50,000 Canadians, often many people will have never heard of lupus until they themselves or somebody they know is diagnosed with this autoimmune disorder.
Often known as “The Disease with a Thousand Faces,” lupus can be difficult to diagnose by medical professionals. Over 80% of people diagnosed with lupus are women in the prime years of their lives – between the ages of 15 and 45 years. In Canada as in the United States, lupus is more common among people of African, Caribbean, Asian and Aboriginal descent.
[edit] Member organizations
- B.C. Lupus Society
- Lupus Erythematosus Society of Saskatchewan (L.E.S.S.)
- Lupus Society of Manitoba Inc.
- Lupus Ontario
- Lupus Foundation of Ontario
- Lupus Québec
- Lupus New Brunswick
- Lupus Society of Nova Scotia
- Lupus Newfoundland and Labrador
- Lupus PEI
