BY Nkosazana Ngwadla
Cape Town get ready for the Blue Sunday Tea Party on Sunday, 14 May, an annual, global event to build awareness, as well as fundraise for ME/CFS and Long Covid patients needing support.
The ME CFS Foundation South Africa is the first entity of its kind in South Africa (and Africa) founded in response to a devastating multi system disease that causes dysfunction of the neurological, immune, endocrine and energy metabolism systems. This serious (often severe and even fatal) illness is called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. It is also referred to as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, hence the abbreviation ME/CFS.
The ME CFS Foundation South Africa supports people with ME/CFS and co-morbid conditions which often occur with ME/CFS such as Fibromyalgia, POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome,) etc. They also provide support for people suffering from Long Covid.
For the first time ever, this outreach event will be held in Khayelitsha, and the community have come out in their droves to make it happen. Mlindeni Gabela, the Foundation’s Long Covid Ambassador, is hosting the event.
He feels particularly driven to create more awareness in a community that has historically been under-resourced, with little, if any, support for ME/CFS/Long Covid patients. Programme: – Keynote Speaker: Dr Uvi Naidoo, clinical specialist paediatrician, and founder of the Long Covid Centre in Cape Town, who also struggles with Long Covid.
Keynote Address: How prevalent is Long Covid in children? As a parent, how to spot and manage it in your child.
A talk by Mlindeni about life before and after Covid – he had to give up his full-time job after developing Long Covid, and is battling to get disability compensation. Attendees can also look forward to a music performance from some of the superb talent in the community.
Thereafter, a creening of the award-winning film, Unrest, which tells a compelling story of the health journey of ME/CFS patients globally, filmed before Long Covid, but the similarities between the two conditions are striking.
Date: Sunday, 14 May 2023
Time: 3 to 6 pm (SAST)
Venue: The brandnew state-of-the-art Isivivana Centre, address, 8 Mzala Street, Khayelitsha, Cape Town
Image: Supplied
