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Let’s Talk Allergy #Bridging The Gap

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Let’s Talk Allergy #Bridging The Gap:

AFSAAllergies occur in over 30% of all South Africans and allergic diseases are the most common chronic diseases of childhood, markedly affecting the quality of life and learning potential in our children. So says Prof Mike Levin, the CEO of the Allergy Foundation of South Africa (AFSA) and head of Allergology at Red Cross Children’s Hospital. Levin will be presenting, with a host of leading allergy specialists, at a public allergy seminar in Port Elizabeth in September.

Entitled Let’s Talk Allergy #BridgingTheGap, the event coincides with AFSA’S sister company the Allergy Society’s ALLSA PE congress for medical professionals. The AFSA public event is open to nurses, pharmacists, general practitioners, patient advocates and patients – and aims to #bridge the gap between allergy experts and the public.

Discussion points will include how to recognise, manage and control common allergic related diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema and urticaria; food allergies and coping with allergies in schools, managing dangerous allergic reactions – anaphylaxis; and the many primary immune deficiencies which cause serious, persistent, unusual, recurrent (SPUR), infections.

Prof Levin says that the establishment of AFSA and public events like this, go a long way in helping to addresses a long-standing gap in the care and advice offered to allergy sufferers. “Currently patients have to wait months to see a specialist, if they are fortunate enough to access care at all. This is largely due to a very low number of registered allergists in the country and very few dedicated allergy clinics. Allergies are increasing rapidly in South Africa and the rate of increase is fastest in the rural and poor populations, where allergies were previously uncommon and many myths and inaccuracies persist.

“We launched AFSA to provide advice, information and support to people with allergies, food intolerance and primary immune deficiencies and to act as the ‘voice’ of allergy sufferers, representing the views and needs of those affected by this multi-organ disease”, he adds.

Let’s Talk Allergy #BridgingTheGap will be held at the Summerstrand Hotel on 16 and 17 September 2017 from 08:00 to 13:30, the cost per person is R400 for public and R1 000 for GP’s, pharmacists and nurses (7 CPD clinical points apply). To reserve your seat contact Claris on Claries@londocor.co.za or Tel: +27 11 954 5753. For more details visit our website www.allergyfoundation.co.za/projects/allergy-seminar/

 

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Source: Port Elizabeth – MyPR.

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