WORLD LUPUS DAY

Early day motion 1069, tabled 28 April 2004 by Janet Dean (Labour). Signed by 222 members.

That this House notes that World Lupus Day, 10th May 2004, is to be announced in conjunction with the 7th International Lupus Congress in New York City, being held to advance the science on lupus; recognises that over five million people worldwide have lupus, of whom around 90 per cent. are female and that lupus may be mild, can be disabling and sometimes fatal, causing many different symptoms including joint and muscle pain, fatigue, depression, kidney, heart, lung and brain involvement, as well as miscarriages; acknowledges that there is an urgent need to increase awareness worldwide of the debilitating impact of lupus; and supports lupus organisations around the globe in calling for increases in public and private sector funding for medical research on lupus, targeted education programmes for health professionals and the public, and worldwide recognition of lupus as a significant public health issue.

Signatures by party: Labour 131, Liberal Democrat 37, Conservative 29, Labour/Co-operative 13, DUP 4, UUP 3, Scottish National Party 2, Independent 1, Independent Conservative 1, Plaid Cymru 1.