‘Research’ is the Theme for Rare Disease Day 2017

February 28 is international Rare Disease Day, a day dedicated to raising public awareness of a myriad of diseases that many people know very little (if anything) about. One of the day’s main goals is to highlight the difficulties patients of rare diseases face in terms of diagnosis, treatment, and everyday living.

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There will be events held in hundreds of locations around the world and this year, the general theme of the day is “research.” Without research, there would be no new treatments and therapies for rare diseases and there would be no work being done to find a cure. However, we need to raise money for this to continue since research into rare diseases is rarely funded by governments.

As well as holding events to raise awareness of how rare diseases affect patients, another goal of the event is to get governments around the world talking and making policies which will enhance the lives of those who suffer.

There are more than 6,000 known rare diseases, which is defined in the U.S. as affecting fewer than 200,000 and in Europe as affecting one in 2,000 people.

Our resident columnist Nicola Whitehill writes about Rare Disease Day in her latest article.

Scleroderma News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.