A foundation that aims to create awareness of the deadly disease, Lupus, and provide support for those affected by it, has been launched in Dominica.
The launching ceremony of the Lupus Foundation of Dominica took place at the Fort Young Hotel on Thursday.
“It is our hope that this foundation will bring about the awareness of this deadly disease, support and provide a source of comfort for the victims and their families and most importantly to motivate them especially when they think that all is lost,” one of the directors of the foundation, Glorine Thomas said.
She noted that the foundation believes that awareness and positive attitudes can save lives.
“It is our short term goals to bring in Lupus Specialist doctors to provide medical care to the warriors, to have workshops and training for the local doctors and nurses to identify signs and symptoms and to treat Lupus victims,” Thomas stated.
She stated that there will be awareness campaigns to assist people in identifying the disease at a very early age.
She pointed out that Lupus is “a chronic auto-immune disease that affects mostly child-rearing women of African decent.”
“The disease has no boundaries, causing damage to any part of the body, skin, joint, any or all vital organs,” Thomas, who herself has been diagnosed with the disease, said. “The signs and symptoms are many, making it very, very difficult to diagnose. The cause of the disease is unknown.”
She noted that after she was diagnosed, she realized there was a need to have a support system in Dominica for those who suffer from the disease.
“After being diagnosed with Lupus in 2011, going through the struggles of being diagnosed, the symptoms, the medical trips, the procedures that I had to undergo, and they were many, and being aware of other persons who suffered the same, I saw the need to have a support system,” Thomas revealed.
The foundation was formed in July 2014 and has the motto: Support, Educate, Motivate.
It aims to:
• Providing Educational programs for affected person, their families as well as the general public
• Engaging in continue research ventures that would benefit persons affected
• Providing emotional support
• Seeking funding to aid with medical visits
• Fostering partnership with similar local, regional and international organization
The founding directors of the foundation are: Glorine Thomas, Taihisa Hill-Guye, Joanne Commodore and Dr. Irving McIntyre.
The Lupus Foundation of Dominica can be contacted via the website: www.dominicalupus.org, or email: [email protected]; or telephone: 225-3442 or 225-1766.
This is especially for the smart people who are giving me the thumbs down; I will educate you on the disease, if you know more about it let us see it writing.
Systemic I. erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease, often febrile, and characterized by injury to the skin, joints, kidneys, nervous system, and mucous membranes. It can, however, affect any organ of the body and is usually characterized by periods of remissions and exacerbations. It was once thought that SLE was a fairly rare disease, however, improved immunologic testing procedures have shown that its prevalence rate is about 1 per 800 population.
It is primarily a disease of women, occurring five to ten times more frequently among females than males. Although the peak incidence is between 30 and 40 years old, it has been diagnosed the very young, and very old. Now I can go into ANA, and DNA and all that. but what’s the point they will give thumbs down when they do not understand what they read anyway!
Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system becomes hyperactive— . Lupus can affect various parts of the body, from the skin and joints, to the brain and heart. The end result includes swelling, inflammation and damage to various parts of the body—
Understanding Lupus
Under normal conditions, the body’s immune system creates proteins known as antibodies, which act as defenders from germs, bacteria, diseases and infections. However, since lupus is an autoimmune disease, the immune system becomes overactive, creating problems. Autoimmune refers to the fact that the immune system can no longer tell the difference between what is harmful and what is healthy. In other words, lupus is a disease where the immune system has become so active, it attacks everything in sight, good and bad. “Google Search—Matthew Cenzon”—Question; What is Lupus?
My people, I shared this information above, for those who are unable to search for themselves–I found this out about 2 years ago, when my friend travelled to New York for the weekend. She collapsed at one of those airports, on her way there, and doctors told her that she could not travel on her own back to Toronto–not for until a few days later.
Her sister told me that this was a reaction of her sickness, which is Lupus–she told me that that disease affects all parts of the body–just as the information above tells us; because it stems out from an immune system which is hyperactive.
My people all that disease is saying to us is that we need to slow down and to eat the foods that maintains a healthy immune system.
Vitamin B is the healthy source, fighting against stress and builds energy. It comes from the foods like green leafy vegetables, carrots, and all the other colored foods. If not the foods, the pills will be good as well–take heed!
Elizabeth, I have more for you, and this you will not find on Goggle!
SLE is the classic prototype of autoimmune congestive tissue disease. Its etiology is unknown; nevertheless, the high level of autoantibodies in persons with SLE indicates a defect in the regulatory mechanism that sustain self-tolerance, and prevent the body from attacking its own cells, cell constituents, and proteins. Patients with SLE can have a wide variety of autoantibodies against nuclear, and cytoplasmic cellular components. The presence of high levels of antinuclear antibody (ANA) in SLE patients with glomerulonephritis indicates a pathogenic role for ANA.
Antinuclear antibodies are directed against deoxyribonucleo-protein, DNA, his-tone, and a soluble non-nucleic acid molecule (Sm antigen). Factors that appear to contribute to the development of SLE include exposure to sunlight, or ultraviolet radiation from sunlamps, a genetic predisposition to the disease, certain drugs, viral infections, and…
@The Facts February 8, 2015
Thank you so much! This man is nothing more than a stupid nuisance–a 70 year old adult acting like a 7 year old boy–even worse than that. Just imagine the length he goes to prove himself to us–even if he knows we will not buy it, for all is plagiarism through “copy and paste”; we all can see that truth, based on his personal thoughts and writing.
You are right, this is willful “harassment”–what I hate more about this is that he will not stop mentioning my name in his futility of death; even if I have warned him not to do so. I am telling my lady: Regrets, I have a few; and that individual is one of them.
Yes, my competitor: anyway I did not goggle whatever I wrote came straight out of a teaching medical institution; such as a university, and some learnt even as an premed student. Now you emphatically told me when I see your “ting” on DNO do not respond under your ting; how come you have plagiarized to respond under my “ting.” Hope you are not going to start crying again eh. Its been so long I thought you were dead oui!
Hahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahha!
I am not your competitor, for you are not qualified to compete with me. Your mind is carnal and your conscience dead there is no way of Life with such conditions.
Also I do not belong in the “twilight zone” of the depth of the sea. which is your dwelling place–that is the reason you have nothing in common with no one–and most certainly not with me.
I commented here because I thought I should share with others, what I discovered–otherwise I make sure that I am not at the news articles which you might choose.
And stop speaking against my Life–there is going to be no death for me; however you are the one who is already dead, that is the reason for the darkness you reveal through all your word and deed! Life is Light and you have none of it in you
Hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe!
Francisco from what I observed, she did not write under your comments. She wrote an original comment. Since DNO only allows a certain number of characters, she continued “under her original writing”. You do it. I do it and also others.
You have wrongly accused her of writing under your original comments. Take a further look at her writing with your eyes wide opened and broadminded. She deserves an apology from you.
You always accuse others as also me of what we have not done and was never our intention. When are you going to cease your accusations and make life difficult for others who comment on this Website? We are all free to comment with no harassment and insult from you or anyone else.
I am Glorine’s cosin in London. I am very proud of her. She shared a little bit about her illness with me last year when I visited Dominica and yes its good to see there is now a group where people with the condition can get support.
Fear mongering is dangerous: Lupus a name originally given to destructive type of skin lesion, implying a local degeneration rather than systemic involvement. Although the term is frequently used alone to designate lupus vulgaris, and sometimes lupus erythematosus, without a modifier it has no meaning. The Latin word lupus means wolf, erythematosus refers to redness. The name lupus erythematosus has been used since the 13th century because physicians thought the shape and color of the skin lesions resembled the bite of a wolf. Currently, there at least two recognized manifestations of the disease; which are discoid lupus erythematosus, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Sorry I cannot go into it any deeper, because of DNO limits, If I cold I may have given more details, and treatment also.
If you are so able to give treatment advice– then reach out to the foundation. Do not use a little article to accuse anyone of spreading fear because i have not had such hope in a long time. Your comment shows that you too were not at the event but would rather behave in the typical Dominican fashion of knocking people down simply because the idea was not your own. Shame on you too. And thank you for basically copying a wikipedia article to explain the meaning of lupus to us. How helpful you are.
Let me tell you something, perhaps if you read my comments on DNO long enough you may recall I said I do not do anything collectively with Dominican. I am an individual who chose who I give my money to, just because you say why not give, that will not touch my conscience. Intimidation has no effect on me.
Lupus has been around for more than 715 years, it is not anything new. As I stated in the 1950’s I know two people from Wesley who died from Lupus, one of them was a young teacher between nineteen and twenty years old, she taught me for a brief period. Her young cousin also died from lupus. Medication for such illness should be readily obtained in pharmacy’s on the island, it should be at arms length in the hospitals, such medication are not expensive, if a man can spend more than thirty million dollars to buy votes ask him why could he not have given that money to the foundation. I suppose you voted for him right? If you did you know where I was taking it. I have donated…
“deadly disease, support and provide a source of comfort for the victims and their families and most importantly to motivate them especially when they think that all is lost,”
One can only hear such despairing comments from a Dominican. Lupus is no longer a deadly disease: in the 1950’s when one was diagnosed with Lupus, it meant death. Long before the turn of the century, many different treatments for the disease have been found. People with Lupus lives natural life’s. I have more than one relative who lives with the diseases, in Dominica, and more than one in the United States. Some people survive without the use of medication. And just before anybody say he doesn’t’ know what he is talking about, let it be known one of my daughters lives with Lupus, without the use of medication. She maintains a certain diet; no one can detect she has that disease unless she tells them. It is basically inflammation of the body.
Had you been at the actual launch you would know that there was no attempt to foster depression or fear. Rather the doctor and participants spoke of hope and coping mechanisms. And Dr. Connor spoke of all the exciting new discoveries and treatments etc. It is wonderful that your family manages the disease but do not forget that this is not America and there is still a lot lacking in how we view the disease and how it is handled locally. All fine and well to sit on your high horse and judge but why don’t you simply reach out rather than judge people’s efforts to assist others. Also- bear in mind that this is an article and DNO has chosen to print only certain excerpts from the speech. i too have lupus and i live HERE and have to cope here. I do not appreciate your tone towards people who are voluntarily giving on their time to help others. They have been helpful and kind and it is people like you who are trying to disparage them even before they have begun. Shame on you
Typo “you” instead of “your”.
Congratulations Tai and the rest of the Directors on a job well done. This is just the beginning. I wish your foundation success and I hope you get all the funding and support that you need to do your very important work of educating and treating persons with this disease. I know some days are hard for your personally, but you are a strong person and you have the support you need from friends and family. Keep up the good work!!!
Keep hope alive for this one….dreadful disease but you must not let it take over your happiness in life. YOGA is the number one exercise for easing the pain as it opens the connective tissues for the energy to flow/circulation …Namaste…. Stress , negative energy are two of the many factors that triggers this disease and its symptoms. Always keep a positive mind and don’t let the small stuff bother you …just let it go . You will feel a difference in your body and your overall well being .In addition: have a well balanced diet which includes leafy veges and omega 3 which you can find in salmon, sardines and many other fishes. Stay clear of sugar and salt. Take care
Good work, really positive movement
I am ecstatic about the founding of this organization. I am so overjoyed. This disease can take such a toll on the individual and I am of the firm opinion that awareness is key. Being diagnosed myself, I can identify with the constant tests, and not knowing the next move. My love and blessings to the founding directions; you all are a blessing. Words can’t explain how much all of your good deeds were needed and will be appreciated.
Dear Chantal
If you are a Dominican with lupus or you know persons with lupus– please reach out to us as the idea is to expand our membership so that any concessions we get for example re medical assistance or financial assistance can be shared with all members so please contact us as soon as you can. Our contact information is listed above.
Is it possible that you went through all this because you were not managed by a competent health professional in the first place?
Just asking. Just maybe.