JEDDAH: Arthritis sufferers gathered recently at the Red Sea Mall to make their voices heard and raise awareness of the disease on World Arthritis Day.
The one-day “Let us work together” awareness campaign organized by the Jeddah branch of King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center (KFSHRC) drew hundreds of shoppers and onlookers.
“Arthritis affects around one percent of adults in all parts of the world. The number of women who suffer from the disease is twice that of men, and often it afflicts people who are between the age of 40s and 70s,” Dr. Hussein Mohammed Halabi, a consultant at KFSHRC said. He added that people suffering from symptoms should visit their doctor to rule out arthritis and receive treatment if necessary.
The hospital hopes the campaign will influence public policy and encourage decision-makers to combat the debilitating illness.
“We held the workshop in a public place such as this mall to raise as much awareness of the disease and in order for more people to know about it so they will be able to handle it. There are many types of arthritis and the public should be aware of it,” Halabi said.
The workshop was among many others worldwide to tell people about arthritis and the steps sufferers can take to alleviate any pain. It also hopes to ensure arthritic people and their caregivers are aware of the vast support network available to them throughout the world.
“Red Sea Mall is glad to participate in a such public event. This is not the first time we held an event like this, it adds to the shopping experience and educates them as well,” Seraj Filali, operations manager at Red Sea Mall added.
