The first-ever National Public Health Agenda for Lupus was presented to Congress last week by representatives from the Lupus Foundation of America, the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The purpose of the agenda is to bring awareness to lupus-related public health priorities, strategies and recommendations.
“While we have seen progress over the past decade, we still have much work to do to ensure a robust public health and well-funded biomedical research effort,” Lupus Foundation of America President and CEO Sandra Raymond said “Lupus is a misunderstood and unpredictable disease, often with devastating consequences. The National Public Health Agenda for Lupus provides, for the first time, a much needed blueprint for all stakeholders to guide action in the fight against lupus.”
Suggestions in the agenda include improved data collection and research, development of lupus self-management initiatives and the creation of better care coordination models.
“Lupus is a complex disease that requires a coordinated and multifaceted approach,” CDC Arthritis, Epilepsy and Well-Being Branch Chief Casey J. Hannan said. “CDC is committed to enhancing the health and quality of life of people with lupus by supporting the strategies and recommendations outlined in the National Public Health Agenda for Lupus.”
