The ME CFS Foundation South Africa

Sobre nosotros

The ME CFS Foundation South Africa is the first organisation of its kind in South Africa (and Africa) founded in response to ME/CFS. It was founded at the end of 2015 and obtained Public Benefit Organisation status early 2016.
The ME CFS Foundation South Africa was founded in response to a devastating multi system disease that causes dysfunction of the neurological, immune, endocrine and energy metabolism systems. This serious (often severe and even fatal) illness is called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. It is also referred to as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, hence the abbreviation ME/CFS.
The ME CFS Foundation South Africa supports people with ME/CFS and co-morbid conditions which often occur with ME/CFS such as Fibromyalgia, POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome,) etc.

Our vision is to transform the lives of all ME/CFS patients in South Africa (& the rest of Africa) by receiving appropriate health care and be treated with dignity.

Our mission
The ME CFS Foundation South Africa is committed to improving the quality of life of all people affected by ME/CFS in South Africa and the rest of the continent by addressing the needs of sufferers, educating the public, medical students, health care practitioners, governments and advocating for their rights.

Objectives
The main objectives of the Foundation are:
• the provision of healthcare services to poor and needy persons with ME/CFS across all races, sexes and socioeconomic classes; and
• the care or counselling of terminally ill persons or persons with severe physical disability due to ME/CFS, and the counselling of their families in this regard.

Our services
The ME CFS Foundation South Africa is the only organisation in our country providing support for ME/CFS patients, their families and carers. In order to do this we are involved in a wide range of education and support programmes, providing access to information about ME/CFS and its co-morbid illnesses, and by advocating the interests of people with ME/CFS in government, medical and media circles.
• Raise Awareness: We raise awareness among healthcare professionals. We need to expand the existing network of medical practitioners to enable diagnosis and provide basic symptomatic treatment.
• Education:We run public awareness campaigns and projects to educate people about ME/CFS and the challenges faced by ME/CFS patients, both diagnosed and undiagnosed as well as their families. We educate health care practitioners
• Support: Physical, emotional and medical support
Physical: Assist with basic necessities such as food, clothing, airtime, crutches, etc.
Emotional: We counsel patients, loved ones and carers. We have a closed online support group - email info@mecfssa.org
Medical: Provision of health care and symptomatic treatment
• Provide Information We develop and keep updated, training materials based on cutting-edge scientific research on ME/CFS for use in the public and private health care sectors for the benefit of patients - we get our information mostly from overseas research institutions and ME/CFS organisations. Being a repository of knowledge and resources for the benefit of patients, their families and carers, the medical profession and other interested parties
• Advocacy: We use social media and other platforms to advocate for the rights of patients with ME/CFS
• Building networks: Building networks and form alliances with health care practitioners, ME/CFS communities, ME/CFS organisations globally, the government, research institutions, etc.. We have started connecting with patients in other African countries.

Retha Viviers is the Founder and Director of the ME CFS Foundation South Africa.

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.