The Pharmacology Department at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) will launch an awareness drive on rheumatoid drugs on Monday, June 21st, 2010. The campaign is designed to educate the public about steroidal and non-steroidal anti - inflammatory drugs as well as rheumatoid drugs that are used to treat the symptoms of Rheumatic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia, and tendonitis.
The campaign, which is scheduled to last until the 24th of June 2010, will take place in the lobby of OPD at Hamad General Hospital from 8:00 to 12:00 daily throughout the duration of the campaign. One of the activities featured a short documentary video as well as counseling by HMC Pharmacists on the dangers of improper use of medication.
Pharmacist Noriya Al Khuzaei – Head Pharmacist at Fahd Bin Jassim Renal Dialysis Center and member of the campaign organizing committee, stated that Rheumatoid associated complications include degeneration of joints that lead to deformation and restriction of movement in the joint areas, and may lead Acute Anemia and blood platelets deficiency and other disorders and diseases that affect the liver, lungs, cardiovascular system, nervous system, the eye, and kidneys.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that causes degeneration of articular cartilage (a major cause of joint movement limitation or restriction) and can be quite painful. It is not known yet what triggers the autoimmune system to produce substances that cause the inflammation which can lead to the entire joint degeneration. This ailment can affect individuals of any age group. However, people prone to this disease usually have the symptoms at the age 20-45 and in which case genetic links are quite likely.
Dr. Halima Al Tamimi, Acting Head of Pharmacology Dept. at HGH, stressed the significance of awareness campaigns to educate patients on the proper use of drugs. "We would like to draw patients' attention to the fact that The Drug and Toxicity Center at HMC can provide a wide range of answer on rheumatoid diseases and treatments as well as valuable information of the use of approved provide drug", stated Dr. Al Tamimi.
The Pharmacology Department has implemented numerous improvements to aid treatment of rheumatoid sufferers. One improvement is in the treatment of in-patients using a clinical approach. The department is reviewing additional development options that will improve rheumatism treatment within HMC hospitals and generally raise standards of drug administered treatments.
