Join the Fight Against Arthritis

Media Release

30 October 2013

Join the Fight Against Arthritis

Arthritis New Zealand are urging people to join the fight against arthritis by coming along to their open day on Saturday 9th November at the Waipuna Conference Centre, Auckland.

Arthritis affects over half a million New Zealanders and can strike anyone at any age; sadly 1000 of them are children. Sandra Kirby, Chief Executive of Arthritis New Zealand says “Managing the often crippling pain experienced by people living with arthritis can feel like a fight every single day of their lives. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Some treatment battles are being won – and we need to make sure people learn both the ways to manage the daily struggle and the treatment successes”.

People can hear the very latest developments on managing arthritis from experts both here and overseas, as well as sessions on the help available in the home, how to stay in the workforce, even if it’s part time as well as the support available for families in schools.

Keynote speakers at the open day will explore some exciting recent developments that have put New Zealand and Australian researchers on the world stage such as:

Fiona Blyth from the University of Sydney who was lead researcher on the Global Burden of Disease Project (funded by Bill and Melinda Gates) will examine why arthritis is large, growing and yet an overlooked issue. It is the leading cause of disability; responsible for many people leaving the workforce and yet not a health priority in Australasia or globally.

Dr Nicola Dalbeth from the University of Auckland looks at why South Auckland has been called the gout capital of the world and the recent discovery, by local scientists of a Jekyll and Hyde gout gene that gets triggered by sugary drinks.

Workshops in the afternoon cover a wide range of issues that will provide people with helpful skills to manage their arthritis – from pain management to helping parents grappling with helping their child with arthritis.

Thanks to the support of the Ministry of Health a limited number of scholarships are available to help people with arthritis attend the conference.

Says Sandra Kirby, “Arthritis is the second leading cause of disability in New Zealand and the topics covered at the full day session, show the true breadth and depth of these debilitating conditions”.

ENDS

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