July 2010

July 27, 2010

Appels à tous les défenseurs des droits

Êtes-vous intéressés par des sujets reliés à l’arthrite tels que l’accès aux médicaments, la recherche, le travail et le handicap ou l’accès aux soins de santé? Si oui, alors joignez-vous à l’Alliance canadienne des arthritiques (ACA).


Nous sommes à la recherche de candidats à travers le Canada qui peuvent apporter de nouvelles idées. Les candidats intéressés doivent posséder les compétences suivantes:

  • Expérience en défense des droits ou volonté de l’apprendre
  • Connaissances générales des problèmes touchant les personnes arthritiques
  • Bonne capacité de rédaction
  • Temps à dévouer bénévolement à l’ACA et participation aux téléconférences mensuelles, ainsi qu’à une rencontre annuelle en personne, habituellement à l’automne
  • Pouvoir allouer de 5 à 10 heures par mois à l’ACA
  • Possibilité de participer à des conférences/réunions à l’extérieur si nécessaire
  • Bonne maîtrise de l’ordinateur, accès à Internet et aux courriels sont absolument essentiels
  • Volonté de travailler en comité et partager l’information de sorte que le Comité directeur (et les membres de l’ACA) possèdent des informations à jour
  • Agréable, qui aime travailler en équipe, mais également de façon indépendante


Procédure pour poser sa candidature :

Courriel : .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Date limite : 15 août 2010
Nous transmettrons un formulaire de nomination aux candidats intéressés à être membre du Comité directeur de l’ACA.


Que font les membres du Comité directeur?

Les membres du Comité directeur sont les yeux et les oreilles de l’ACA dans leur province ou leur région. Ils représentent l’ACA et s’assurent que ses politiques et principes directeurs les questions concernant les arthritiques sont entendus par les différentes parties prenantes et ils apportent de nouveaux sujets à l’attention du Comité directeur afin que l’ACA puisse se positionner de façon unanime sur des sujets d’actualité.

Les membres du Comité directeur font partie de comités dont les sujets sont aussi variés que l’accès aux médicaments, l’arthrite juvénile idiopathique, l’accès aux professionnels de la santé, les communications (avec les membres, les partenaires tels que Joint Pain et les politiciens afin d’assurer la visibilité des membres de l’ACA et que leur voix soit entendue). De plus, nous travaillons en partenariat avec les professionnels de la santé sur des projets de recherche en soutenant leurs candidatures pour du financement et en leurs faisant part de nos commentaires du point de vue d’un patient. Nous transmettons également nos commentaires aux compagnies pharmaceutiques tout en portant une attention particulière à la neutralité et à l’absence de biais.


CAPA_Recruitment_AD_2010_07_26_Fr.pdf

July 27, 2010

Calling all Advocates

Are you interested in arthritis issues such as access to medications, research, disability & work or access to health care? If yes then think about joining us. We are looking for candidates who can bring fresh new ideas from across Canada. Candidates should have the following qualifications and skills:

  • Strong advocacy skills or the willingness to learn
  • General awareness of arthritis issues
  • Strong writing skills
  • Time to dedicate as a volunteer and to attend monthly teleconferences and an annual face to face meeting usually in the Fall
  • Must be able to dedicate 5-10 hours per month to CAPA business
  • Ability to attend out of town conferences/meetings as needed
  • Computer skills, access to the internet and e-mail is absolutely essential
  • Willing to work as part of a committee, sharing information so CAPA’s Steering Committee (and members) are up to date on issues
  • Personable and loves working in a team but is also self directed

Application Process:

E-Mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Deadline: August 15, 2010
We will forward a Nomination Form to prospective Steering Committee Members.


What does a Steering Committee Member do?

A CAPA Steering Committee (SC) member typically is responsible for being the ears and voice of CAPA in their province or region. The SC member will represent CAPA and ensure CAPA’s policies/philosophies are heard in matters affecting arthritis patients or bring new issues to the full SC so a consensus is reached on all CAPA positions.

The SC member will be a Committee member on committees such as Access to Medication, Juvenile Infantile Arthritis (JIA), Access to Professionals, Communication (to members, to organizations with shared interests (such as Joint Pain), and to politicians to ensure CAPA members are visible and have a voice). We also work with professionals on research studies, supporting grant applications and providing patient-focused feedback and provide feedback to pharmaceutical companies, being careful to remain neutral and bias-free.

CAPA_Recruitment_AD_2010_07_26.pdf

July 24, 2010

Life With Arthritis In Canada Published

The Public Health Agency of Canada has published a report that is worthy of note. Please visit one of the following links:

English Life With Arthritis in Canada: A personal and public health challenge

CAPACAPA

French Vivre avec l'arthrite au Canada: Un défi de santé personnel et de santé publique



In the words of Dr. David Butler-Jones,

Dear reader,

I urge everyone in reading this report, Life with Arthritis in Canada: A personal and public health challenge, to identify what can be done within your organization or personally to prevent and reduce the impact of arthritis among Canadians.

Although progress is being made on interventions to reduce the impact of arthritis on Canadians, arthritis remains common, costly, and disabling. More than 4.2 million Canadians live with one or more of the 100 conditions that comprise arthritis. It is one of the leading causes of pain and physical disability in Canada and a major public health challenge. Arthritis may affect one’s daily activities, choice of career, social participation, relationships and family life, and economic status.

Life with Arthritis in Canada: A personal and public health challenge is designed to increase public awareness that arthritis is not simply a normal part of aging and the importance of prevention and timely management.

This report reflects the commitment of the Public Health Agency of Canada and the organizations and individuals which have collaborated on this report to provide the much needed information on arthritis to policy makers, health care providers, volunteers and the public. I would like to thank them for their ongoing commitment to the reduction of the burden of arthritis for all Canadians.

I encourage you to use this report within your areas of interest or expertise to improve the health of Canadians.

Dr. David Butler-Jones
Chief Public Health Officer of Canada

July 15, 2010

RA Drug’s Warning Label Expanded To Include Possible Fatal Liver Damage.

NEWS: Medpage Today(7/13, Petrochko) reported, "The FDA has expanded the black box warning to the label of the rheumatoid arthritis drug leflunomide (Arava) to include possible fatal liver damage." The decision was made after the "agency received 49 adverse event reports -- including instances of jaundice, coagulopathy, encephalopathy, and 14 fatalities -- about the drug from August 2002 to May 2009." The "greatest risk occurred in patients taking other drugs that may cause liver damage while taking leflunomide and in patients with preexisting liver disease."

Notably, the "drug label already features a boxed warning stating that leflunomide is contraindicated for pregnant women and for women of childbearing potential not using reliable contraception," Medscape (7/13, Lowes) reported. "More information on today's FDA announcement about leflunomide is available on the agency's website

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