An event this Thursday will inform the public about five rheumatic diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, spondyloarthritis, lupus and osteoporosis.
Five second-year students from St George’s University MBBS, a programme run by the University of Nicosia’s medical school, will give ten-minute talks which are accessible to all. The presentations will be moderated by rheumatologist Dr Joseph Joseph.
“This is to inform the general public, to make them understand about the diseases, it is not addressed just to other students and doctors,” said Caterina Kalavas from the Rotary Club of Nicosia, which supports and is co-organising the event. “After each presentation the public can ask questions. Many people, for example, don’t know that osteoporosis is a rheumatic disease.”
The students chose the five diseases as they are the main ones, and they don’t want to make it too long or confusing by including more of them, Kalavas explained.
This project, which is organised for the second consecutive year, also gives the future doctors the opportunity to prepare a talk and to deliver it to a non-medical audience in lay terms – something that doctors are required to do throughout their careers.
More than 100,000 patients suffer with rheumatic disease in Cyprus and around 35,000 with inflammatory rheumatic disease. Early detection and treatment are the keys to help prevent further damage and pain.
The effects of this disease not only affected patients, but also health systems and society in general. For example, in Europe, rheumatic diseases were the most common cause of absence from work, and account for 50 per cent of long-term functional disability.
The venue is Boulevard, 81-83 Grivas Dighenis avenue, Nicosia, and it starts on May 31 at 7.30pm. All are welcome. Entrance with light refreshments free.
For registration and further information please call 22-554202, 96-605208 or 22-200638.
The campaign is supported by the Rotaract Club University of Nicosia, Rotaract Club Nicosia-Aspelia, Rotaract Club of Nicosia, and the two Rotary Clubs of Nicosia-Aspelia and Nicosia.
0 σχόλια