The Municipal Councils of Faro and Vila Real de Santo António, according to a note from the Portuguese Fibromyalgia Association (APJOF), joined the association’s challenge and will mark World Fibromyalgia Day, May 12th at night, with purple lighting , the Faro City Council building and Pelourinho in Praça Marques de Pombal in VRSA.
Fibromyalgia is a rheumatic disease (RD) that affects around 1.7% of the population and is the second DR that causes the most disability in Portugal (EpiReumaPt 2011/2013). Although Fibromyalgia was recognized in 1992 by the World Health Organization, there are Normative Circulars from the Directorate-General for Health, studies, articles, resolutions published in the Diário da República, etc., there are still many doctors (and even family and friends) who do not believe in the existence of this pathology.
According to APJOF “consequently, 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.”
To mark this date, in addition to the lighting of monuments, APJOF is organizing a webinar (free and accessible to everyone) that will also take place on 12/05, at 9 pm, live on its YouTube channel with the participation of Rheumatologist Dr. Diogo Guimarães da Fonseca, whose theme will be “Fibromyalgia Crises: What are they? How to manage?”
It should be noted that the Portuguese Fibromyalgia Association (APJOF) is a non-profit association, founded in 2016, recognized by the Ministry of Health and General Directorate of Health as an Association for the Defense of Health Users, which aims to support, raise awareness and work in for people diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and their families.
