Kota Kinabalu: The Walk-A-Payung (WAP) event, held in conjunction with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Awareness Day, drew 500 participants, on Saturday.
Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk James Ratib said the programme is timely since it increases people’s knowledge and understanding of diseases, including SLE.
He thanked the Sabah SLE Association Chapter, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, and everyone who helped organise the event.
“On behalf of the Ministry and as Sabah Health Exco, I fully support the effort and hope that every participant will take advantage of this chance to increase their knowledge and understanding of SLE,” he said when officiating the programme here.
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Meanwhile, Dr Heselynn Hussin, President of Persatuan Systematic Lupus Erythematosus Malaysia, described SLE as a chronic auto-immune illness in which antibodies target the body’s own tissues, causing inflammation in many sections of the body.
“Until today, the cause of SLE disease is unknown,” she said.
“However, in many cases, SLE patients can continue to live comfortably if they are referred to a doctor early and take the appropriate medicine and see a counsellor to avoid stress and depression.”
Meanwhile, the one-km walk with an umbrella is indicative of the understanding that one of the impacts of SLE disease is that patients should not be exposed to sunlight, which can cause SLE patients to develop inflammation of the skin.
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