Barbados has second highest global incidence of lupus: Group walks to raise funds

By Caribbean Medical News Staff
Shelly Weir, President of the Hope Foundation, the umbrella organisation chronic diseases including Lupus, Sickle Cell Anaemia and Arthritis says that the association’s annual walk for lupus is bringing awareness to the illness.
Over 120 persons came out to show their support for the debilitating disease, which with proper treatment can still be managed.
“Remembering that we were coming from a position where nobody knew about lupus, when we started in fact, [however] now because of the Barbados Lupus Study, we know that we have the second highest incidence of lupus in the world and … we have gone from the position where the symptoms would have been missed, illness misdiagnosed and so on, to doctors being a lot more aware,” she Weir said.
Having head the Hope Foundation for over 20 years Weir says this year had one of the better attendances and said the group has been expanding and walking strong for the cause in order to raise funds for years.
She however said that there was still a lack of awareness even among medical professionals because symptoms can and do mimic those of other diseases,
“We have come a long way, though, diagnosis is getting much better”, she said.
“Despite most of our challenges … no matter what it is, we continue to persevere. I want to thank Barbados, corporate Barbados, ordinary citizens. We recognise that there is a lot of goodwill out there for the organisation and I want to say a very big thank you for that and we look forward to that continued support,” Weir continued.
Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Christopher Sinckler and Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development, Donville Inniss also supported the 6km walk.