A Nadi-based medical clinician has referred to lupus as a “master of disguise” because its symptoms would always take time to develop making it difficult for clinicians to diagnose.
Zen’s Medical Clinic executive director Dr Zen Min-Low said this during a recent Lupus Fiji Foundation virtual walk to mark its two years of existence in Fiji.
“Lupus is now referred to as a master of disguise because the symptoms develop over months or years, making it difficult for clinicians to diagnose,” Dr Zen said.
Counterstroke Fiji vice-president Lusiana Marama Aca informed participants they had facilitated caregiving training in communities and at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital for better care of patients with lupus.
Foundation executive director Una Tuitubou said the virtual walk allowed them to discuss the various tests surrounding lupus – a long-term autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy tissue.
“In light of the COVID-19 restrictions around Fiji, the foundation hosted a virtual walk via Zoom on Saturday, May 1 that had participants from around Fiji, United States, the UK, India, Africa and Tuvalu joining from the safety of their homes,” Ms Tuitubou said.
“These include candlelight vigils, kids’ awards night and the plant for lupus and time capsule initiatives on May 29.”
The month of May marked the annual Month of Lupus awareness and this year’s international theme was ‘Make Lupus Visible’.
