#ITAW19 International Thyroid Awareness Week starts 25th May 2019

World Thyroid Day is May 25th, and International Thyroid Awareness Week is
May 25th to 31st, 2019.

We are pleased to share a note from Ashok Bhaseen, President of Thyroid Federation International:

"There are still many people living with some kind of thyroid disorder without diagnosis. The International Thyroid Awareness Week is now in its 11th year, and  I promise we at Thyroid Federation International and its member countries won’t rest until testing and diagnosis rates improve globally. This year we’re helping people to recognize the many faces of thyroid disorders so they can visit a healthcare  professional and get tested as soon as possible."

Look for patient programs on education and awareness in your country or visit the Thyroid Federation website in your country. [See below for information from The Thyroid Trust in the UK].

How to get involved in this year’s campaign

If you’re on social media, keep up with the campaign via the TFI and TTT channels on Twitter and Facebook, and play your part in the global movement by using the hashtag #ITAW19. This will help us raise awareness of thyroid disorders, which affect more than 200 million people worldwide according to the ATA (American Thyroid Association).

Visit Thyroid Federation International on www.thyroidweek.org and www.thyroid-fed.org

Why are we doing this?

ITAW, now in its 11th year, was created to highlight the detrimental impact that thyroid disorders have on people’s quality of life when left undiagnosed. Around 1.6 billion people worldwide are thought to be at risk, with hundreds of millions living with a thyroid condition right now.i Up to 60% of those living with a thyroid disorder are undiagnosed, and people may be needlessly struggling through their everyday lives without knowing the root cause of their symptoms (ii). However, once diagnosed, thyroid disorders are treatable, and the ITAW campaign is pushing hard to improve testing and diagnoses globally. 

Sources:
(i) Khan A, Khan MM, Akhtar S. Thyroid disorders, etiology and prevalence. J Med Sci 2002; 2: 89–94. Available at:
http://www.scialert.net/fulltext/?doi=jms.2002.89.94&org=11 Last accessed February 2019.
ii American Thyroid Association. General Information/Press Room. Available at: https://www.thyroid.org/mediamain/press-room/ Last accessed February 2019.

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The Thyroid Trust and #ITAW19

This year the topic for International Thyroid Awareness Week is "the many faces of thyroid disease". We are encouraging anyone affected by thyroid disease to share social media posts on that theme using the campaign hashtag #ITAW19.

The Thyroid Trust (TTT), registered charity number 1183292, in the UK, are new members of Thyroid Federation International and have been working hard with patient and professional partner organisations to improve access to treatment options for thyroid patients in the National Health Service. 

TTT have helped publish a major report, on liothyronine access issues, for the Department of Health and Social Care and are subsequently working closely with NHS England to help clarify guidance for when this specialist treatment should be prescribed. The issue has attracted considerable national and regional media coverage with articles in the Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail and on the BBC. 

TTT have produced a short 2 minute Awareness Film, Let’s Talk About Thyroid Health, and two longer Information Videos with expert medical speakers, Mr Fausto Palazzo and Dr Anthony Toft – on the Evolution of Thyroid Surgery and The Management of Hypothyroidism. We are asking our supporters to please share the Awareness Film far and wide and share the Information Videos with anyone looking to learn more. 

​Events

TTT will be holding an Informal Get Together with a few friends at the Wellcome Trust Café, 215 Euston Road, in London on International Thyroid Day, 25th May 2019, from 11am- 12pm, all welcome but please let us know in advance if you are planning to attend. Trustee, Theresa Baker, who is an ex nurse, will be hosting. 

The next London Event is on 8th June and is for anyone interested in helping increase activities to benefit thyroid patients in the UK – The Learning and Growing Event will be at the Crick Institute Café on 8th June 11am – 1pm. 

Information Events will commence in the autumn. Upcoming talks include Thyroid Disorders and Nutrition with Professor Margaret Rayman and Dr Sarah Bath on 23rd November 2019 and the New Nice Guidelines on Managing Thyroid Disease with Dr Kristien Boelaert on 25th January 2020. There will also be an event on 21st September 2019, programme tbc. Full details are on The Thyroid Trust website events page. https://www.thyroidtrust.org