Message from the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health

Lupus Awareness Month

October 2010

As Minister of Health, I am pleased to observe October as Lupus Awareness Month. Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease in the arthritis family that affects nearly one in every 2,000 Canadian adults. This disease affects various parts of the body, most frequently the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys, and is often accompanied by severe joint and muscle pain, extreme exhaustion, fevers, and skin rashes. Lupus can affect anyone at any time in life, thought it typically strikes women of childbearing age.

While there is presently no cure for lupus, research provides hope that safer and more effective therapies will soon be available and that a cure will ultimately be found. Over the past year, the Government of Canada, through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, has invested $2.1 million in lupus-related research. Recently, the Public Health Agency of Canada released the second national surveillance report on arthritis entitled,  Life with Arthritis in Canada: A personal and public health challenge. This report highlights the possible risk factors and potential management strategies for lupus.

Although the causes of lupus are not yet fully understood, Canadians can live with a chronic disease with proper treatment and by adopting a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating well with Canada's Food Guide, getting active with  Canada's Physical Activity Guide and staying smoke-free. 

During Lupus Awareness Month, please join me in commending the many volunteers of  Lupus Canada on their work to raise awareness of lupus and to provide Canadians with valuable programs and services.

Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of Health
Government of Canada