VisionTo achieve a better life for all those affected with arthritis.
MissionTo enable those with arthritis to live a valuable life in all its dimensions through increasing awareness, providing education and offering support.
The Arthritis Foundation of South Africa is the only body in our country providing non-medical support for arthritis patients, their families and carers. To do this we are involved in a wide range of education and support programmes, in providing access to information about these diseases, and by advocating the interests of people with arthritis in government, medical and media circles.
The services we perform therefore fall quite naturally into certain categories:
Together with correct medical treatment, having the confidence to take personal control of your illness, has been shown many times to be the most important factor in restoring quality of life for people with arthritis. Therefore, in everything we do, we put the emphasis on building the individual’s capacity for managing their own disease.
Arthritis Foundation Programmes:
We run a number of educational programmes:
- Kate Lorig Self-Help Empowerment Courses
- Pfizer Patient Partner Medical Student and Continuing Health Education Programme.
- Informal and formal talks to special interest groups
- Lectures by professional medical people and experts in other relevant fields
- Awareness/Open Days
- Living Life and Loving It Programme – general arthritis self-help support group
- Ad hoc support networks for specific forms of arthritis
- Helpline available between 09h00 and 16h00 weekdays: 0861 30 30 30
- COPE – Community Outreach Programme for Empowerment – operating currently in Soweto, Alexandra, Durban and Cape Town. Although at different levels of development in different centres, the programme includes clinic visits in hospitals big and small, exercise classes, talks, support groups and counselling.
- Shop - Various assistive devices for easier living (openers for taps, bottles, jars, car windows and much more), our famous back cushions, exercise video/DVD, a library of relevant literature and our highly prized range of greeting cards and limited edition prints.
We publish:
- Leaflets on a wide range of different types of arthritis and rheumatism, plus related topics such as diet, exercise and tips for making life easier.
- Joint Ability Magazine – Quarterly
- Website – www.arthritis.org.za
- Publicity – by raising public awareness through the print and electronic media one can raise the pressure on government and medical schemes to take a greater role in dealing with the treatment and costs of arthritis.
- Advocacy – advocating people – cultured policies on arthritis in government, medical and media circles.
- Lay arm of professional medical bodies
The work of the Foundation is an important adjunct to the professional services provided by doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and the like. Their contact time with patients is limited and their focus may be on only one aspect of patients’ problems. By referring patients to the Foundation the medical profession can ensure that patients are able to access ongoing support in all aspects of their lives.
Many thousands of people with arthritis in South Africa are untreated, as they never get anywhere near the professional medical system and of those who do, few get the correct treatment due to the extreme shortage of rheumatologists in the public – and private – health care sector. These people can receive help and advice from the Arthritis Foundation of South Africa.
How does the Arthritis Foundation of South Africa provide its services?
- Funding - we are entirely privately funded, dependent solely on private sources
- Memberships
- Donations – from private individuals and organizations
- Sponsorships – by commercial companies
- Bequests – from individuals which provide either capital or income to ensure the work of the Arthritis Foundation of South Africa into the future.
Structure
The Head Office is in Cape Town and supports branches in Johannesburg, Pretoria, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Bloemfontein and Western Cape
Benefits of Membership are:
- Receive all publications quarterly
- Personally invited to interesting and informative functions
- Improved quality of life through expert knowledge and pain management techniques
- Improved medical treatment, through advocacy
- Significant discounts on all our courses and products
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