World Arthritis Day 2008 Emirates (UAE)

The Emirates Arthritis Foundation have received the results from the WorldArthritis Day Survey which 50 countries participated in and it was conductedin 9 languages including Arabic. This is the first year that the UAE hasbeen represented and it is beneficial that we now have data just for theUAE.I have attached the results and the press release that will go out aroundWorld Arthritis Day.Of considerable note is that1. 40% of patients in the UAE would feel more positive in their lifewith arthritis if they had better access to a medical team2. 70% of patients in the UAE stated that their arthritis affects thememotionally with 17% leading to depression yet only 25% of them raise thisissue with their doctorThe Foundation will hold workshops in 2009 for those suffering witharthritis/rheumatism to address the emotional challenges of our arthritispatients. Our mission at EAF is to improve the quality of life for arthritissufferers here in the Middle East and we plan to take a proactive role inthis.