Rheumatology Initiative fetes patients, others
The Rheumatology Initiative (TRI) Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has held a special New Year party for persons suffering from autoimmune diseases, orphans and the underprivileged.
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Autoimmune diseases refer to a varied group of illnesses that attack the body’s immune system, thereby making it weak and unable to fight diseases and infections.
Symptoms include fatigue, unexplained weight and hair loss, muscle aches or weakness, persistent fever, joint pains and swellings and dryness of the eyes or mouth.
Apart from making merry, the revellers fraternised and shared their experiences with one another.
The occasion was also used to thank God for His blessings in 2015. TRI Ghana also presented food items and assorted drinks to the New Life Orphanage at Teshie-Nungua in Accra.
Why TRI Ghana
Briefing journalists at the well-attended programme, the Director of TRI Ghana, Dr Dzifa Dey, said the organisation’s objective was to help offer medical care to persons diagnosed with autoimmune diseases.
Dr Dey, who is also a physician specialist, rheumatologist and lecturer at the School of Medicine of the University of Ghana MedicalSchool, said the group was established to also educate the public on autoimmune diseases, especially lupus, and to advocate life-saving support for the patients.
Rheumatology Clinic
Dr Dey said in furtherance of its objective, TRI Ghana had established a rheumatology clinic to care for persons suffering from autoimmune diseases.
She added that various support groups had also been established by the NGO to cater for the patients.
To strengthen its education and advocacy activities, Dr Dey said a Ghanaian film actress, Ms Rama Brew, had also been selected to front the activities of TRI Ghana.
“The treatment and medications of patients are costly, and so the government must endeavour to include that on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS),” she said.
Dr Dey said the diseases presented symptoms that could easily be mistaken for those of HIV/AIDS.
She stressed that there was need for close collaboration between the government and other agencies to provide medication for the patients, as well as educate the public on the disease.
Beneficiaries express gratitude
Some patients who had been treated by Dr Dey and her colleagues expressed gratitude to TRI Ghana for the care and support given them.
“I almost gave up because I thought there was no hope. But now I’m living a healthy life due to the treatment I received,” Dorcas Naa Kokoi Attoh said.
