Yes I am angry and I am fed up.
Fibromyalgia affects over 5 million Americans, primarily women. (Let alone the rest of the world)
The research funding money given to fibro in the USA is quite small compared to the amount of the population who suffer from this condition.
Lack of Government Funding for Fibromyalgia Research
US government funding figures for 2011 for ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia research in comparison with other conditions:
Multiple Sclerosis – $144 million funding – 500,000 Americans
Lupus – $121 million funding – 1.5 million Americans
West Nile Virus – $63 million – 3,630 Americans (in 2007)
Lyme Disease – $26 million – 150,000 Americans (since 2002)
Fibromyalgia – $12 million – 3 – 6 million Americans
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – $5 million – 1 – 4 million Americans
Multiple Sclerosis – $144 million funding – 500,000 Americans
Lupus – $121 million funding – 1.5 million Americans
West Nile Virus – $63 million – 3,630 Americans (in 2007)
Lyme Disease – $26 million – 150,000 Americans (since 2002)
Fibromyalgia – $12 million – 3 – 6 million Americans
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – $5 million – 1 – 4 million Americans
You can read more about the lack of funding at fighting fatigue.org
I don't think this is controversial at all.
ReplyDeleteDo you know the group in USA guerilla artists? All women who do art to showcase the fact that most art in most museums and in art history is by men. They have many stats to back this up.
I agree with you 100%. Fibromyalgia is a "pink ghetto" disorder. They would have cured it a long time ago if it affected predominantly men. Look how fast they got drugs for men with ED! That was an emergency, of course!
ReplyDeleteWomen tend to be undertreated for many illnesses. I have seen catastrophic outcomes in women not emergently treated for chest pain. The attitude was that women don't have heart attacks. Slowly but surely women are gaining their voice and respect. Thanks to all the pioneers that have come before us to achieve the goal of equal human rights for everyone around the globe!
ReplyDeleteLee - Thanks for posting this (depressing) information. What's funding like in Australia?
ReplyDeleteWow! I had no idea...
ReplyDelete