Accra: Oyemam Autoimmune Foundation on Thursday led a delegation of lupus patients and advocates to the Parliament of Ghana, intensifying calls for national action to improve diagnosis, treatment access, and policy support for lupus and other autoimmune diseases. The visit, organised by OYEMAM as part of its ongoing lupus awareness campaign in collaboration with Parliament, marked another high-level engagement in the Foundation's push to move autoimmune conditions from the margins of public discourse to Ghana's national health agenda.
According to Ghana News Agency, a statement signed by Madam Emma Halm, Executive Director of Oyemam Autoimmune Foundation, emphasized the importance of the delegation's visit, which was acknowledged by the Speaker of Parliament. The delegation engaged with several Members of Parliament (MPs) regarding the physical, emotional, and financial challenges faced by Ghanaians living with lupus. The statement highlighted the courage of many advocates who attended despite living with daily pain, emphasizing that their participation was more than just a symbolic gesture.
The visit is part of sustained advocacy efforts by OYEMAM, including engagements with Mr. Alban S. K. Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, and Dr. Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Klottey Korley. It follows the May 2025 World Lupus Day observance at Parliament House, where Dr. Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings, as keynote speaker, called for stronger national support for patients, including improved financing through the National Health Insurance Scheme.
The advocacy aligns with the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF) Act, 2025 (Act 1144), which classifies autoimmune diseases under 'chronic disease' in its interpretation. The inclusion of autoimmune diseases in this category was secured through the advocacy of Dr. Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings during the passage of the GMTF bill in Parliament in July 2025.
According to the statement, the human cost of limited support was highlighted during the visit when one patient emotionally described the burden of treatment costs, revealing the severe financial strain on families affected by lupus. Lupus, a debilitating autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks healthy tissues and organs, continues to affect a growing number of Ghanaians, especially women in their productive years.
OYEMAM stated that awareness of lupus remains dangerously low, with many patients facing delayed or misdiagnosis, harmful social misconceptions, and prohibitive out-of-pocket costs for tests, medicines, and specialist care. The access to necessary care is further limited by a severe shortage of rheumatology services nationwide.
Madam Emma Halm, Executive Director of Oyemam Autoimmune Foundation, expressed gratitude to Parliament for its collaboration and reaffirmed the Foundation's commitment to patient support and policy change. She emphasized the Foundation's goal to place autoimmunity on Ghana's national agenda and secure healthcare equity for people living with lupus and related conditions.
The Foundation plans to continue its sustained engagement with policymakers, health institutions, and public and private sector partners. OYEMAM is also calling for greater partnership from institutions, philanthropies, and development actors to expand awareness, early diagnosis, specialist care, and livelihood support for patients and families.