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May is National Arthritis Month!
April 30, 2009
Today, the Arthritis Foundation, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, kicked off National Arthritis Awareness Month with a briefing on Capitol Hill, hosted by Congresswoman Rosa De Lauro (D-CT), to detail new arthritis-related data being released by the CDC. Published in the May 1, 2009, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the study reveals new data with arthritis topping the list as the most common cause of disability and showing how arthritis disproportionately affects women. It has been more than 10 years since the leading causes of disability in the U.S. have been researched and reported.
CDC Chronic Disease Director, Janet Collins, Ph.D., along with Arthritis Foundation President and CEO, John Klippel, M.D., and volunteers Jacki Barbato (Northern/Southern New England Chapter) and Veronica Rueda (Southern California Chapter) presented remarks at the briefing. Ms. Barbato (CT) and Ms. Rueda (CA) testified about the importance of physical activity in managing their arthritis and in teaching others about the importance of exercise, such as participation in the Arthritis Foundation exercise programs offered throughout the nation. Our goal of the Congressional Briefing was to encourage Congress to fund more arthritis prevention efforts nationwide. Currently, only 12 states are funded by Congress to conduct and promote arthritis prevention programs. If you would like to send a message to Congress to urge them to increase funding for arthritis prevention click here.
Additionally, Dr. Klippel will conduct interviews to discuss this new information via a nationwide radio media tour on May 1.
For questions related to the Congressional briefing, please contact Amy Melnick. For questions related to media outreach, contact Carol Galbreath.
For questions related to the Congressional briefing, please contact Amy Melnick. For questions related to media outreach, contact Carol Galbreath.
The Congressional briefing raised awareness on Capitol Hill about the prevalence of arthritis and its impact; the need for evidence-based programs in more communities; the importance of CDC arthritis prevention funding; and the urgency to pass the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act (H.R. 1210).
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