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Keeping Active Can Minimise The Ill Effects Of Arthritis
– Reported, September 29, 2012
Hosting WAD 2012 is Emirates Arthritis Foundation (EAF), which aims to raise awareness of the disease and inspire those with the condition to take on new challenges. Spread over two days, WAD is open to anyone interested in arthritis and will feature 12 seminars and interactive workshops designed to support arthritis sufferers through their daily challenges.
EAF Director of Operations and Patient Support, Katrina Thornely, says the activities at this years WAD event have been formulated to teach new skills and provide information that will help people manage their pain and assist them in living happy, healthy lifestyles.
Weve designed a comprehensive programme to cover all aspects of living with rheumatic conditions and we want people to get the most of it, she says. We looked at everything that worked at last years event and have built on it to make World Arthritis Day 2012 more interactive and informative for our attendees.
The biggest change from last year is that WAD now takes place over the two days of the weekend, with a different key speaker and workshops on each day.
We had a great response following last years event but we felt the day was a little rushed, so this year weve decided to spread the activities across the two days. Now our attendees really have a chance to get involved in all the different workshops and seminars and get the most out of what weve got on offer.
Returning this year are two of 2011s most popular speakers; Grand Master Willie Lim, the Arizona-based martial arts pioneer who works with arthritis patients, and Swedish intimacy specialist Anna Ageberg, who will present separate mens and womens seminars on relationship issues, which she says are often overlooked by the health profession.
Grand Master Willy has arthritis himself but this hasnt stopped him achieving worldwide recognition for his skills. He is an 8th dan in Tae Kwon Do and a 7th dan in Ryukyu Kempo. He has also represented the U.S. and New Zealand for Tae Kwon Do and was a nominee for Martial Artist of the Century. Grand Master Willy teaches martial arts disciplines across the world and is flying into Dubai to hold a series of workshops around WAD, both for arthritis patients and for Dubai Police and martial arts enthusiasts.
Ageberg, also an arthritis sufferer, will share insights with married arthritis sufferers on personal relationships. She is familiar with the challenges the condition can pose, from frequent hospitalisation, pain and everyday tiredness. She is passionate about helping others to overcome these challenges.
Both Anna and Grand Master Lim were extremely well received last year and they still have a lot more information they can share with arthritis sufferers in the UAE, says Thornely.
WAD 2012 has been designed as a blend of activities, entertainment and education, in a continuous series of workshops, performances and presentations covering topics ranging from parenthood, martial arts and dancing, to free food and beverage sampling, information on personal life, complementary therapies, youth issues and fashion.
One of the most important things we can teach arthritis sufferers in the UAE is that it is possible to lead a healthy and happy life, despite having the condition. I have no doubt that this event is going to help and benefit all those who are suffering from arthritis.
A charitable lunch has also been organised to take place on Saturday at the Park Regis Le Metro restaurant, with entertainment being provided by some of Dubais funniest comedians at Dubomedy, including Ali Al Sayed.
All activities over the two-day WAD event are free of charge and open to the public, but as this is a charity event, donations are encouraged.
Arthritis affects about one in five people in the UAE and early diagnosis is important for successful treatment. Contrary to popular belief, the disease does not only occur in the elderly. Children and teenagers are also susceptible, with the most severe forms occurring mostly in younger people. The average age of onset is between 40 and 60 years.
A recent study by Dubai-based arthritis specialist and founding member of EAF, Dr. Humeira Badsha, indicates that improved public awareness has resulted in the timeframe for diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis in the UAE being reduced from 14 months to eight months; a commendable decrease of 45 percent. However, there is still room for improvement, with European countries such as the Netherlands diagnosing the condition within just five months.
About arthritis:
More than 100 different diseases are encompassed by the term arthritis and its anticipated that a third of the worlds population will suffer from some form of arthritis in their lifetime. The prevalence of arthritis is the same in the Gulf countries as in the West, with around one per cent for rheumatoid arthritis and up to 20 per cent for all forms of arthritis. Although the cause is elusive, doctors suspect that genetic factors play a big role. Arthritis can begin at any age and can affect all body organs, not just joints, causing inflammation in the heart, lungs and eyes. Symptoms include persistent pain in one or many joints, swelling of joints, prolonged early morning stiffness and waking up at night with pain. Other symptoms, such as rashes, mouth ulcers and hair loss, are also reasons to see a specialist. Patients in the UAE do not require a referral from a general practitioner to see a specialist and while most seek medical attention, a lack of awareness means they often dont see a rheumatologist, thereby limiting early diagnosis. While there is currently no cure, plenty can be done to control the disease and to improve the quality of life for sufferers.
About Emirates Arthritis Foundation:
The Emirates Arthritis Foundation (EAF) was the first musculoskeletal charity organisation to be established in the Middle East. Founded in 2006, the Foundation has grown to support more than 1000 patients today across the UAE. EAF is a non-profit body that contributes to the welfare of the entire region by providing an extensive range of events and programs to support arthritis patients, including regional outreach initiatives that draw upon support from the local healthcare community. The Emirates Arthritis Foundations code of ethics is based upon promoting ideals of corporate fairness, transparency and accountability in order for it to remain a trusted community body. More information about the Foundation is available at: www.arthritis.ae.
About Fikra:
Fikra PR is part of the Fikra Media Consultancy Group from KSA – a dynamic public relations consultancy with 10-years experience of drafting and executing highly successful, innovative communications campaigns throughout the region. Fikra PR is multi-cultural, with a global outlook, operating from offices in Dubai, Jeddah and Riyadh and through a regional team across the Middle East, Africa and South Pacific. The consultancy is dedicated to understanding, communicating and working for a number of industry sectors, while adapting to the vastly different cultures and media environments found throughout the network, with an effective and measurable approach. Find out more about the organisation at: www.efikra.com.