Home - Rheumatology For All

OUR MISSION

About Rheumatology for All

Rheumatology for All’s mission is to increase access to rheumatology care in under-resourced regions. Our aim is to create self-sustaining rheumatology training programs by funding the education of local physicians to become rheumatologists and providing educational programs for local physicians.

The Challenge

Millions of people throughout the world cannot get professional care for painful and debilitating rheumatic diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, etc.
Why does this matter? Without treatment people suffer pain, disability and possibly death. Rheumatic diseases are most common in young women but everyone from young children to the elderly can be affected.

The Solution

Educate local medical students, doctors in training and healthcare professionals so that rheumatology healthcare is continuously renewed with tomorrow’s health leaders

What's Happening?

We are so proud: Recognition of Excellence in Rheumatology

Rheumatology for All (RFA) is thrilled! Becky and Birhanu, who RFA recently sponsored for fellowship training in rheumatology, after only two years back in Ethiopia, have won the Recognition of Excellence award at Black Lion Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This award is given by the outgoing group of medical residents in recognition to the best… Read More »

Fall 2022 Update

There is a worldwide shortage of rheumatologists that is especially critical in low/middle income countries. As a result, rheumatology care in these countries is often provided by non-rheumatology clinicians. Rheumatology for All has successfully sponsored two Ethiopian physicians for fellowship training in rheumatology. They are currently providing care for patients in Ethiopia and just as… Read More »

Spring 2022 Update

RFA is making steady progress as an organization as reflected by our accomplishments. We continue to work towards increasing access to rheumatology care in resource limited areas in Africa by improving rheumatology education. Drs. Birhanu Demelash and Becky Adnugna, two Ethiopian physicians who Rheumatology for All (RFA) sponsored for fellowship training in rheumatology in South… Read More »

Fall 2021 Update – A letter from one of our volunteers

Our volunteers and donors are key to our success. Here we share a note written by Paul Caldron, D.O., recently retired from Arizona Arthritis Associates In June 2017, The Rheumatologist published a piece related to the dearth of rheumatology services in African countries and included reference to the experiences of Michele Meltzer, MD in Ethiopia… Read More »

Global Facts

Africa is presently home to 1.2 billion people, 16% of the world’s population.
Africa has only 2.7 physicians per 10,000 population, compared to 5.9 in South East Asia, 12.7 in the eastern Mediterranean, 15.5 in the western Pacific, 21.5 in the Americas, and 32.1 in the European region .
Minimal research on rheumatic disorders is done as most African countries lack national agencies responsible for funding and conducting medical research.
Urbanization has resulted in an increase in the prevalence of gout, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and scleroderma over the past four decades.
According to the 2010 Global Burden of Disease survey, rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases are the second leading cause of disability. worldwide.

Afomia Needs Our Help

If she cannot go to school, she will not be a wage earner.

“My name is Afomia Hailu I am a 23 year old girl. I graduated in civil engineering with 2.60GPA. I live in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and I’ve been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and started taking medications NSAIDS like prednisolone but as you know there are no practicing rheumatologists in my country. I’ve been to many doctors including a neurologist and I seem to be getting worse and I have run out of options. I need your help to get treated by a rheumatologist. I hope I hear from you soon I will be waiting for your email. Thank you.”

INCREASING ACCESS TO RHEUMATOLOGY CARE IN RESOURCE POOR AREAS

Difficult or Impossible to Work with Arthritis