This year's campaign, under the slogan “Lupus Doesn't Stop,” aims to increase the visibility of this chronic autoimmune disease and educate the public about the challenges faced by diagnosed individuals. The initiative coincides with World Lupus Day celebrated every May 10.
According to information provided by ALCA, several residents of Sanlúcar live daily with this condition, for which there is currently no definitive cure. The association plays a crucial role in supporting patients and their families by offering information, advice, and organizing social awareness activities.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body's own tissues and organs, causing chronic inflammation and potentially affecting vital organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, or brain.
This disease primarily affects individuals between 15 and 45 years old, with a higher incidence among women. One of the most significant problems highlighted by the Spanish Federation of Lupus (Felupus) is the considerable delay in diagnosis, which can take up to four years from the onset of the first symptoms.
Patient association estimates indicate that between 500 and 1,000 people in the province of Cádiz live with lupus. In this context, ALCA emphasizes the need for greater public investment in research and improved coordination of healthcare for those suffering from this disease.
The association stresses the importance of increasing public knowledge about this pathology to facilitate earlier diagnoses, improve patients' quality of life, and mitigate the physical and emotional impact associated with the disease. The activities of Lupus Awareness Month also seek to give a voice to the testimonies and needs of those affected.
