About Don't Delay, Connect Today

In 2017, EULAR launched the Europe-wide campaign entitled ‘Don’t Delay, Connect Today’ with the goal to highlight rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) as major diseases and a public health concern of pandemic proportions, and that early diagnosis and timely access to treatment can prevent further damage and burden on the individual and society.

The campaign targets the public, physicians, health professionals, occupational health therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists and policy-makers. 

Why it matters?

They say life is short – so give it your best shot. For many millions of people in Europe the opportunity to design a good life is however severely limited by a chronic disease.

There are over 200 rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, RMDs. All of them can have debilitating effects on the individual, their life and career prospects, as well as national health care systems. 

Approximately 100 million people in Europe are currently diagnosed with an RMD, there are however at least 100 million more who are living without a diagnosis.

EULAR started the campaign, Don’t Delay, Connect Today in 2017 with the purpose of raising awareness around the importance of early diagnosis and access to care – for all.

Don't Delay, Connect Today Life stories

	11-year-old Aran talks about his life living with a rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease
	Meet Simon Stones who was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, JIA, at the age of three. Today, Simon is undertaking advanced studies at university to obtain a PhD, and speaks about his ability to take action to bring his life onto this track thanks to early diagnosis. Simon believes in the importance of a collaborative approach between doctors, people including young people and their parents to enable successful outcomes for all.
	Kate Betteridge was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, RA, at age 13. Her family doctor successfully identified symptoms and within eight weeks an accurate diagnosis was made. Early diagnosis enabled Kate to go on to fulfil her dream of becoming a journalist and to integrate the management of RA into her life, rather than letting RA dominate her life and passions

Watch the "Don't Delay, Connect Today" full video playlist

EULAR PARE Member Organisations' participation

Member organisations of EULAR PARE have taken part in the Don't Delay, Connect Today campaign with a series of activities.

Click the country and scroll down to learn more.

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Denmark

The EULAR campaign Don’t Delay, Connect Today will run in Denmark in a cooperation between The Danish Rheumatism Association together with The Danish Society of Rheumatology. It is planned to run in October to mark the World Arthritis Day on October 12. During week 41 rheumatologists in 11 hospitals across the country will support the event by inviting everyone with symptoms to an ‘open hospital event’ where rheumatologists will conduct hand scans with ultrasound to everyone showing up during an afternoon on a set date.
Press releases will be sent to engage both national and loacal media.
Also there will be awareness raising activities at the pharmacies across the country where campaign material will be handed out to clients providing information on the importance of early diagnosis and to react on the early signs.

For more information, please visit www.gigtforeningen.dk