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Welcome to the

Arthritis Foundation of South Africa

We work to empower you to take charge of your health through advocacy, education, support, and access to information and resources.

Our Vision

A better life for all affected by rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease.

Our Mission

To enable those affected by rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease to live a valuable life in all its dimensions through increasing awareness, providing education, advocacy and support.

We work to empower you to take charge of your health through advocacy, education, support, and access to information and resources.

The Arthritis Foundation is patient orientated, non-profit organisation that is dedicated to education, assistance, and informing the public on the impact and consequences of arthritis.

 

We work to empower you to take charge of your health through advocacy, education, support, and access to information and resources.

The Arthritis Foundation is a patient orientated, non-profit organisation that is dedicated to education, assistance, and informing the public on the impact and consequences of arthritis.

We work to empower you to take charge of your health through advocacy, education, support, and access to information and resources.

The Arthritis Foundation is a patient-orientated, non-profit organisation that is dedicated to education, assistance, and informing the public on the impact and consequences of arthritis.

What are rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases?

Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) are chronic systemic diseases that commonly affect the joints but can affect any organ of the body. There are more than 200 RMDs that affect children and adults.

Download our

Magazine

Arthritis Insight Magazine

2024

We aim to help all people living with RMDs to live a full life with fewer limitations. We do this by providing education, support, and access to relevant information that can be understood by all South Africans.

Our

Objectives

Support

Support

To provide community support services in a spirit of empathy for all people with arthritis, their families, friends and caregivers.

Education

Education

Conducting arthritis education programmes for people with arthritis, their families, caregivers and health professionals to better understand arthritis and effective methods of treatment.

Information

Information

Informing and advising about arthritis, treatment, medication, and research trends.

Research

Research

To assist with research where financially viable and in line with the vision and mission.

Advocacy

Advocacy

Advocate for the rights and care of people affected by arthritis

Research

Research

To assist with research where financially viable and in line with the vision and mission.

Advocacy

Advocacy

Advocate for the rights and care of people affected by arthritis

Awareness Days

2023

18 MARCH

WORD DAY – World Young Rheumatic Diseases Day

27 MARCH

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS DAY

6 MAY

World Axial Spondyloarthropathy day

10 MAY

LUPUS AWARENESS DAY

29 JUNE

World Systemic Sclerosis Day

23 JULY

World Sjögren’s day

27 JULY

OSTEOARTHRITIS DAY

22 AUGUST

FIBROMYALGIA DAY

12 OCTOBER

WORLD ARTHRITIS DAY

20 OCTOBER

World Osteoporosis day

29 OCTOBER

World Psoriatic Arthritis Day

23 NOVEMBER

COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES DAY

What is

Arthritis?

Arthritis is the term used to describe anything that affects your joints. It can cause pain and inflammation, making it difficult to move or stay active. There are many types of arthritis. Each form causes different symptoms and may need different treatments. While the most common form of arthritis, namely osteoarthritis, usually affects older adults, other forms of arthritis can affect people of any age as well as children.

What is

Arthritis?

Arthritis is the term used to describe anything that affects your joints. It can cause pain and inflammation, making it difficult to move or stay active. There are many types of arthritis. Each form causes different symptoms and may need different treatments. While the most common form of arthritis, namely osteoarthritis, usually affects older adults, other forms of arthritis can affect people of any age as well as children.

What is

Arthritis?

Arthritis is the term used to describe anything that affects your joints. It can cause pain and inflammation, making it difficult to move or stay active. There are many types of arthritis. Each form causes different symptoms and may need different treatments. While the most common form of arthritis, namely osteoarthritis, usually affects older adults, other forms of arthritis can affect people of any age as well as children.

Download our

Reading Material

WARNING SIGNS OF ARTHRITIS

View / download our educational posters to read for yourself, share with loved ones, put up at your nearest school, clinic, hospital, pharmacy, consulting rooms, waiting rooms, etc. Let's spread more awareness together!

4 MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF ARTHRITIS

View / download our educational posters to read for yourself, share with loved ones, put up at your nearest school, clinic, hospital, pharmacy, consulting rooms, waiting rooms, etc. Let's spread more awareness together!

Our

Webinar Schedule

Webinar Title Speaker Date
World Young Rheumatic Disease Day Dr Halland 30th March 2023, 6-7PM
Mindfulness Speaker Marie Wilken 20th March 2023, 6-7PM
Gout Dr Elsa Van Duuren 20th April 2023, 6-7PM
Lupus Awareness Day Dr Elsa Van Duuren 18th May 2023, 6-7PM
Axial Spondyloarthritis in a Nutshell Maranda Van Dam 15th June 2023, 6-7PM
OA Awareness Day: Why is Osteoarthritis So Painful? Prof A Kalla 20th July 2023, 6-7PM
Fibromyalgia Awareness Day: Practical Tips on How to Self-Manage Pain Dershnee Devan 17th August 2023, 6-7PM
Feet First: Tips, Shoes, Exercise for Feet Andrew Clarke 21st September 2023, 6-7PM
World Arthritis Day: SA Dental Assoc. Periodontal Diseases of the Mouth Dr Andreas Siebold 12th October 2023, 6-7PM
Complementary Day: Reflexology N/A 16th November 2023, 6-7PM

CHAT (Children Have Arthritis Too)

BUT ISN'T ARTHRITIS SOMETHING ONLY OLDER PEOPLE GET?

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is different from the arthritis that adults get. Kids can have many different types of arthritis, but JIA is the most common. Many problems can cause pain and swelling of the joints, so a doctor will want to know how long these problems have been going on. To be considered JIA, the joints must have swelling and pain for at least 6 weeks.

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Rheumatologist

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The Arthritis Foundation is a patient-centred, non-profit organisation that is dedicated to education, assistance, and informing the public on the impact and consequences of RMDs.

The Arthritis Foundation of SA is a registered non-profit organisation, No 002-847 NPO

Support

As an NPO, we rely on your support to be able to continue with our work.

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