Buildings in Viseu and Nelas lit up in purple on World Fibromyalgia Day

Daily

The day is marked next Sunday (May 12). Fibromyalgia is the second rheumatic disease that, in Portugal, causes the most disability

Photographer: DR

The municipalities of Viseu and Nelas will mark World Fibromyalgia Day on the night of next Sunday (May 12) with the purple lighting of Casa Amarela, the headquarters of the Viseu District Archive in Santa Cristina, and the Nelas Town Hall .

Fibromyalgia is a rheumatic disease that affects around 1.7% of the Portuguese population and is the second pathology of its kind that, in Portugal, causes the most disability.

According to the Portuguese Fibromyalgia Association, despite the disease being recognized by the World Health Organization, there are doctors, family members and friends of patients who “do not believe in the existence of this pathology”.

“As a result, diagnoses and access to therapy are delayed, which worsens the health status and disability of these users and also has a major impact on a psychosocial level. Furthermore, there is no legislative support at work, school or health for people with this diagnosis. There is an urgent need for more awareness/literacy in society, for better acceptance of this pathology, and legislation to support patients”, maintains the association.

Also to mark this date, in addition to the lighting of monuments, a free online seminar will be organized this Sunday on the Fibromyalgia Association’s YouTube channel, starting at 9pm on Sunday, with the participation of rheumatologist Diogo Guimarães da Fonseca. The theme is “Fibromyalgia Crises: What are they? How to manage?”.