China Launches Campaign Fighting ArthritisChinese Medical Association (CMA), together with two pharmaceutical companies, has launched a campaign to find new ways to fight against chronic arthritis on World Arthritis Day which falls on Thursday.The campaign aims to make people aware of ways to prevent the disease and find effective treatment as soon as possible. Pharmacia and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Ltd. vowed to support the nationwide health drive through an education foundation jointly set up by the two companies. Statistics show that more than 355 million people in the world suffer from arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and China has over 100 million. Tang Fulin, chief of CMA's rheumatoid branch, said 98 percent of people will get the disease when they get older. However, he said, arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can be cured. "Early diagnosis and proper treatment help relieve pain of patients," said Tang, who is also a rheumatoid professor at Beijing Union Medical College Hospital. When the people's living standard is continuously raised, China has seen a high incidence of arthritis, which is reportedly caused by overstrain, gluttony and endocrine disorder. The CMA will organize free diagnosis and medical consultations for people throughout the country. |
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