On the occasion of the International Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Day, this morning the reading of the XXII Manifesto May 12 took place under the motto “The right to a life project”. The event was organized by the association AFIBROAL (Fibromyalgia Association of Almansa), which led this initiative with the aim of bringing visibility to these invisible diseases and demanding greater institutional, medical, and social attention for those who suffer from them.
The reading of the manifesto took place in the Auditorium of the General Hospital of Almansa, where patients, families, healthcare professionals, and institutional representatives gathered to raise their voices for the rights and needs of the collective affected by these chronic ailments, often misunderstood.
XXII INTERNATIONAL FIBROMYALGIA AND CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME MANIFESTO
May 12, 2024
THE RIGHT TO A LIFE PROJECT
This is a concept that we want to defend with this MANIFESTO: to provide patients with the opportunities to rebuild a life project in all areas of their lives. Lives that were shattered by silent diseases with elusive diagnoses, treatments, and very cruel to endure. Diseases that, many times, also made our environment cruel, with a lack of understanding that hurt us more than the pain of the illness itself.
Therefore, since 2004, people affected by Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have led the fight with our Manifesto for:
- A change of paradigm in the view, respect, and institutional and social recognition of our diseases.
- An equitable, accessible, egalitarian, and guaranteeing Public Health and Social System in the care of these diseases and in fair benefits when a possible disability requires it.
- Better university education in chronic pain and fatigue and ongoing training for the professionals who treat us.
- A valorization of research as a means to advance in technical, preventive, and community diagnoses to delve into better treatments.
- The recognition of our entities as Health Assets and necessary collaborators in the consensuses for professional care guidelines and in actions to promote healthy living habits and activities.
We do not want to forget about other diseases classified as Central Sensitization Syndromes that have joined this fight for dignity and recognition in recent years. Nor do we want to forget about the diseases and treatments that involve pain and fatigue with a significant impact on their quality of life. Our solidarity with all of them from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome whose main characteristics are precisely Chronic Pain and Fatigue.
WORLD FM AND CFS DAY 2024 MANIFESTO
But today is also a day of celebration and recognition. Celebrating that we have come this far united by common ideals and objectives, which led us to create and consolidate one of the networks of one of the most powerful associative movements in Spain that, with sacrifice, rigor, and professionalism, has earned the respect of many.
Therefore, this manifesto is also a song of gratitude to all the people who, from associations, federations, confederations, and foundations, work tirelessly for our cause. And to our families who support and accompany us continuously, even though their quality of life has also been severely affected by our illness.
It is also towards all the professionals who have put patients at the center of healthcare and who are continuously training and researching in diagnostic criteria and treatments, agreeing on guidelines and protocols to offer us the best possible care.
But above all, it is a song of hope that our struggle, our demands of so many years, serve so that the patients of future generations can benefit from them and can fully realize their personal, family, professional, work, and social Life Project.
Today is a day of highly demanding commemoration of rights, but with a great emotional, supportive, grateful, and unifying spirit. The union of our wills to continue the path towards NORMALIZATION of diseases whose affected individuals should never have had to fight for their civic rights.
We have fought and continue to fight with DIGNITY for the recognition of our DIGNITY and we offer this common space to all individuals, professionals, healthcare and social managers, institutions, society in general who want to collaborate in the CO-CREATIVE process of a fair and supportive society for all.
Our gratitude to the people who have agreed to publicly read our Manifesto, bringing their prestige and commitment. And to all those who have wanted to listen to us for the proactive reflections and actions that our MANIFESTO may generate in them.
May 12, 2024
International Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Day.