[ PROCLAMATION NO. 1435, December 17, 2007 ]
DECLARING THE FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY OF EVERY YEAR AS LUPUS ADVOCACY WEEK
WHEREAS, motivated by "Friends of Lupus", The Rheumatology Educational Trust Foundation, Inc. (RETFI) set up the LUISA (LUpus InSpired Advocacy) Project which aims to develop, promote, and support a robust and dynamic national lupus registry project and define the role of genetic, environmental and socio cultural factors in disease expression.
WHEREAS, Lupus is an autoimmune disease which can involve several organ systems and become a chronic complicated and disabling disease. Approximately 75% of patients suffering from the disease will have abnormalities in the structure and function of one or more vital organs such as the heart, lungs, kidney and brain.
WHEREAS, Lupus most commonly occurs in women during the childbearing years, ages 15-45. Women are affected ten times more often than men in the same age group.
WHEREAS, People with lupus are more likely than the general population to be hospitalized (32% in 1 year) and unable to work (66% compared to 38% non-participation work rate in the general population) because of their illness.
WHEREAS, lupus poses an enormous drain on the personal, family and community resources which translates not only to personal and family economic losses but also to a significant loss of productivity among these patients who should otherwise be in the most productive years of their lives.
WHEREAS, different strategies in the prevention, treatment and chronic care of individuals with lupus and related disorders should be exuberantly and dynamically pursued to contain the disease, related disorders and economic burden.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the power vested in me by law, do hereby declared the first week of February of every year as "Lupus Advocacy Week."
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.
DONE in the City of Manila, this 17th day of December, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Seven.
By the President:
(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary
WHEREAS, Lupus is an autoimmune disease which can involve several organ systems and become a chronic complicated and disabling disease. Approximately 75% of patients suffering from the disease will have abnormalities in the structure and function of one or more vital organs such as the heart, lungs, kidney and brain.
WHEREAS, Lupus most commonly occurs in women during the childbearing years, ages 15-45. Women are affected ten times more often than men in the same age group.
WHEREAS, People with lupus are more likely than the general population to be hospitalized (32% in 1 year) and unable to work (66% compared to 38% non-participation work rate in the general population) because of their illness.
WHEREAS, lupus poses an enormous drain on the personal, family and community resources which translates not only to personal and family economic losses but also to a significant loss of productivity among these patients who should otherwise be in the most productive years of their lives.
WHEREAS, different strategies in the prevention, treatment and chronic care of individuals with lupus and related disorders should be exuberantly and dynamically pursued to contain the disease, related disorders and economic burden.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the power vested in me by law, do hereby declared the first week of February of every year as "Lupus Advocacy Week."
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.
DONE in the City of Manila, this 17th day of December, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Seven.
(Sgd.) GLORIA M. ARROYO
By the President:
(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary