The Friends of Arthritis Patients Society (FOAP) of the Health Promotion Department at the Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA), recently organized the second webinar of the “Rheumatism online” series which aims to raise health awareness of community members about rheumatic diseases and arthritis and ways to prevent them and support patients and raise their awareness about the importance of adopting healthy nutritional patterns to enhance the immune system, especially in light of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) spread.

The webinar was attended by Her Excellency Waheeda Abdul Aziz, Head of FOAP and a number of rheumatologists from the GCC, including Dr. Adiba Abdullah Al-Harz, Consultant Rheumatology, Dr. Suad Hanawi, Senior Consultant of Rheumatology, UAE, and Sheikha Al-Qallaf, Therapeutic dietitian, while the event was moderated by  Iman Turki, Head of Programmes Section, Health Promotion Department, besides the participation of Eng. Fathi Afaneh, CEO of Fast Building Contracting and representatives of supporting companies and community members.

Backing arthritis patients

Waheeda Abdul Aziz said that the webinar is part of the initiatives and programs launched by FOAP to raise people’s awareness about arthritis and to ensure effective communication with patients whether from inside or outside the country.

Given that arthritis is one of the chronic diseases that weaken the immune system, we strive to provide its patients with the importance of health advice and guidance and to provide them with all forms of support in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She added: “FOAP, under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs always seeks to improve the physical and mental health of arthritis patients, through the cooperation and coordination with various public and private institutions to maintain patient’s health by launching educational and awareness initiatives to raise the community members’ awareness about the symptoms and complications of arthritis and to urge them to follow healthy lifestyles.

Health tips

The participating doctors provided several health tips, underlining the importance of adopting a healthy diet containing all the food elements to boost the immune system, and to reduce inflammations.

They also emphasized the need to lose excess weight to alleviate pressure on the joints and to avoid eating fatty foods and fast food to prevent severe swelling in the extremities, as well as to practice light exercises at home, urging arthritis patients not to stop taking their medicines, especially immunosuppressive drugs, without asking their doctors who can develop an appropriate treatment plan according to their health conditions and the current situation.