In 30 seconds, you can make a difference for Canadians living with Spondyloarthritis

In 30 seconds, you can make a difference for Canadians living with Spondyloarthritis

Sign
image of In 30 seconds, you can make a difference for Canadians living with Spondyloarthritis

Did you know: 

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of inflammatory conditions including axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA/AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), uveitis, enteropathic arthritis (EnA), peripheral, reactive and undifferentiated spondyloarthritis.
Unlike other forms of arthritis, SpA:
  • Often starts at a younger age, commonly in teen years.  
  • People live with the disease for longer periods of time and for most of their lives when compared to osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.  
  • More people live with SpA than rheumatoid arthritis.
  • More than half a million Canadians live with the SpA.
  • It can affect more than just joints.
  • It can cause problems in the eyes, skin ...

Did you know: 

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of inflammatory conditions including axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA/AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), uveitis, enteropathic arthritis (EnA), peripheral, reactive and undifferentiated spondyloarthritis.
Unlike other forms of arthritis, SpA:
  • Often starts at a younger age, commonly in teen years.  
  • People live with the disease for longer periods of time and for most of their lives when compared to osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.  
  • More people live with SpA than rheumatoid arthritis.
  • More than half a million Canadians live with the SpA.
  • It can affect more than just joints.
  • It can cause problems in the eyes, skin, and digestive system, leading to a wide range of symptoms that can be difficult to manage.
  • It can result in painful inflammation of tendons and ligaments where they attach to bones, called enthesitis.
  • It unacceptably takes 7-10 years to receive an axSpA diagnosis
  • It is degenerative and progressive in nature.
  • MOST ALARMING, further complicating the situation, up to approx. 50% of patients become resistant to their treatments within five years. Therefore, access to new treatment options is essential. 

SpA is a chronic and debilitating condition. It is a silent, aggressive epidemic impacting countless lives. Yet, despite its severity, many are struggling to get the treatment they need, simply because the options available are inadequate and inequitable. For many people, the unpredictable nature of flare-ups and the chronic pain can significantly impact quality of life, making it difficult to parent, work, attend school, socialize, and enjoy daily activities. 

Why This Matters: 

  1. The Urgent Need for Equitable Access: In British Columbia, access to effective treatment for spondyloarthritis varies significantly, leaving many patients facing long waits and limited options. This provincial disparity when compared to other provinces not only exacerbates suffering but also undermines quality of life. No one should have to suffer needlessly due to an inequitable healthcare system. 
  2. The Growing Crisis: Recent studies reveal that up to 50% of individuals with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) develop resistance to their initial treatments within just five years. This means that without access to alternative and advanced treatment options, half of those battling this condition could face worsening symptoms and diminished quality of life.
  3. The Demand for Action: The current treatment landscape is insufficiently equipped to handle the evolving needs of those living with SpA. The healthcare system must adapt to provide more diverse and effective treatment options to prevent unnecessary suffering and improve outcomes for patients. 

 

+

Have your say with the BC Ministry of Health

Residents in BC do not have access to the same medications covered in other provinces, leading to inequality. 

How You Can Help: 

Sign this petition to show your support for individuals suffering from spondyloarthritis. Your signature will demonstrate to the BC government that equitable access to effective treatment is not just a healthcare issue but a moral imperative. Together, we can ensure that no one has to endure unnecessary pain or face inadequate treatment options.

Our Call to Action: 

We are calling on the BC government to: 

  • Expand Treatment Options: Broaden the range of available treatments for spondyloarthritis. This includes funding for new therapies and medications that address the needs of patients who are at risk of developing resistance to current options within five years. 

  • Ensure Equitable Access to Treatment: Implement policies to guarantee that all individuals with spondyloarthritis have timely and equitable access to necessary treatments, regardless of their location or financial situation. 

How we use the data you enter on this form

Do Gooder (the advocacy platform powering this online action) processes personal information from you that you enter on this form so that we can provide the functions and related services to you and The Campaigner (the organisation responsible for this online action) for their legitimate purposes, including possibly exporting it to other systems, and to effectively respond to enquiries and communications related to those services.

Specifically when you enter:

  • Your location data (residential address or postcode) it is used to locate your elected representative, to pre-populate your email signature and to provide The Campaigner with a visualisation of the location of the support for this campaign.

  • All other data you may enter, including your email address, name, telephone number, commentary and so on is used by The Campaigner to advocate for the campaign’s goals and where required may be sent to the target of the campaign.

The data collected by Do Gooder is also used by us in aggregate form to improve the service and may be held on your behalf outside your country of residence by our third party service providers. These providers are bound by contract to only use personal information on our behalf, in accordance with agreed terms. While the privacy laws of the country in which personal information is stored or transferred may be different from those in your country, we will always have safeguards in place when storing or transferring personal information. We will never sell, rent, loan or in any other way pass your information on to other parties other than to provide this service to you and The Campaigner.

The personal information collected by Do Gooder is held subject to a Data Processing Agreement between Do Gooder and The Campaigner in compliance with the EU's GDPR and Australian law.

Learn more about our privacy policy here

How is my data used?