The ME CFS Foundation South Africa NPO jobs and careers

About The ME CFS Foundation South Africa NPO

The ME CFS Foundation South Africa was founded to address the need of people with the illness Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ME/CFS Patients often live in isolation as many misconceptions still exist. Symptoms include extreme mental & physical exhaustion, memory & concentration problems, muscle & joint pain, sleep disturbances, dizziness, sensitivities to chemicals, sounds,lights, etc. There is no cure yet, however, symptomatic treatment can improve quality of life. Some patients become bedbound, others are housebound, and some die from it. The illness varies in severity & doesn't discriminate against age, race, sex, socio economic class, etc. Most patients experience serious financial distress. Objectives a) Raising awareness of ME/CFS b) Providing healthcare services for those who cannot afford them; c) Advocating for the rights and interests of persons living with ME/CFS. d) The care or counselling of terminally ill persons or persons with severe physical disability, and the counselling of their families in this regard. General activities: a) Secure and provide needed healthcare and other services to patients unable to afford them b) Establish care facilities for patients c) Run public awareness campaigns/projects to educate people about ME/CFS and the challenges faced by ME/CFS patients and their families, both diagnosed and undiagnosed d) Engage the media to raise the profile of ME/CFS e) Create a network of experts and supporters to assist healthcare and counselling f) Be a repository of knowledge and resources g) Lobby the medical profession to see ME/CFS as the chronic medical condition it is, treat patients with dignity, respect, ensure they receive appropriate medical treatment h) Engage the Department of Health to advocate for appropriate accommodation of patients i) Develop, and update, training materials based on cutting-edge scientific research on ME/CFS for use in the public and private healthcare sectors for the benefit of patients