Non-profit aims to raise Lupus awareness
The organisation hopes to bring more awareness and offer emotional support to those diagnosed with the disease.
THREE local women are hoping the launch of their non-profit organisation (NPO), ElihleSamu Foundation, will help people diagnosed with the long-term autoimmune disease, Lupus.
Phume Mbanjwa from Hillcrest, Sthabile Mtolo from uMhlanga and Nokwazi Moffat from Glenwood launched the foundation at the Riverside Hotel last week and said they hoped to bring more awareness and offer emotional support to those diagnosed with the disease.
The disease occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs and can affect people in different ways.
“I decided to start the NPO because of a very personal experience in my family. My mother, Bongi, was diagnosed with Lupus in 2018. Before her diagnosis, she was very sick, and as a family, we didn’t understand what was going on. I thought to myself, I can’t be the only person out there who feels like this. Because Lupus lacks significant awareness and there isn’t even a cure for it, I had the vision to start a foundation.
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“Our NPO would be a support structure, especially for the lower income communities, as they suffer the most. Lupus is very difficult to diagnose, and we hope to create a space where we can give back. Our launch also comes as we gear up for Lupus Awareness Month in May, which is all about raising awareness about its impact on a person’s physical, emotional, and economic state. We’ve seen it firsthand,” she said.
The NPO is registered with the Department of Social Development, and the trio aim to carry out their first outreach project next month.
For Mtolo, the journey from idea to launch also has a personal connection as she was raised by Mbanjwa’s mother.
“She is like a mother to me, so this journey is also close to my heart. It was difficult seeing her suffer, and when Phume approached me with the idea, I was all for it. We each have our own skills and knowledge, and we felt we could combine that. Next month, we hope to approach local clinics and hospitals to offer our support in whatever way we can.
If you would like to support the organisation or to find out more, follow them on Instagram (@elihlesamu_foundation_) or email elihlesfoundation@gmail.com.
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