On the occasion of the celebration of World Parkinson’s Day on April 11, the Spanish Parkinson’s Federation (FEP) and its associations have launched the campaign «Put a positive label«. Its objective is to give visibility to the emotional impact that the social image of the disease has on the person, and to promote a change in the perception and stereotypes about Parkinson’s.
Parkinson’s is a disease commonly associated with the aging of the person and the general belief is that tremor is the most representative symptom of this neurodegenerative disease. However, one in five people is under the age of 50 at the time of diagnosis, and 30% of people never develop tremor.
And it is that, as pointed out Alice Fieldsdirector of the Spanish Parkinson Federation, “Sometimes some symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, such as muscle stiffness, decreased facial expression or impaired balance, are misinterpreted from ignorance. With the campaign “Put a positive label” we seek to achieve a change in the social image that exists of Parkinson’s diseaseand generate like this trusted spaces so that people with Parkinson’s feel safe to show themselves as they are”.
In this sense, the campaign” aims to change perceptions and stereotypes about Parkinson’s, showing the reality of many people who face their life process with optimism and positivity while living with the disease. A message that offers society a different option to look at the person by putting a positive label. This is how he presents it campaign spotwhich is carried out by different people with Parkinson’s, launching a powerful message of empowerment.
“Today is my day and I have decided to show myself as I am”, “I know that I am unique and I feel great” and “I refuse to change, to stop feeling good”, These are some of the messages that the collective launches through the campaign materials.
“When you receive a Parkinson’s diagnosis, the impact is felt in all aspects of your life. He ignorance of the disease at a social level, or the wrong idea that exists about it, leads you to ask yourself many questions when communicating the diagnosis to the environment. “Put a positive label” is the formula we have found to do see to society how important it is that they know our reality”, Explain Andres Alvarezpresident of the and affected by Parkinson’s.
The campaign will be developed under the hashtag #PutAPositiveLabel through social networks throughout the month of April, with special emphasis between the 6th and 11th. In addition, on April 11th there will be a “virtual act” in which people will be encouraged to participate in creating a chain of positive labels.
The campaign has been launched with the collaboration of the 66 federated Parkinson’s associations, and the following companies and entities: AbbVie, Abbott, Bial, Boston Scientific, COCEMFE, Kyowa Kirin, Medtronic, Fundación ONCE, MERZ Therapeutics, Fundación Telefónica, UCB, UCB Cares and Zambon. In addition, the campaign materials have been made thanks to the IKONO space, which has provided the facilities for the recording and photo shoot, carried out safely and in compliance with the necessary sanitary measures.
Parkinson’s must be high on the political agenda
In commemorating World Parkinson’s Day, the Parkinson collective does not want to overlook the great impact that the pandemic and confinement have had on the collective. Covid-19 has affected people with Parkinson’s, who have experienced a , both at a motor level and at a psychological and cognitive level. In addition, the services of Parkinson’s associations have been affected, and the continuity of the health crisis creates serious difficulties in the reactivation of care in Parkinson’s associations.
That is why this group, seeing the continuity of care for people with Parkinson’s and the sustainability of the associations at risk, demand that the publication and implementation of the document on the Approach to Parkinson’s disease contemplated in the Strategy in Neurodegenerative Diseases of the SNS.
“Ignorance of the disease also leads the competent bodies in health and social matters to leave Parkinson’s, and the 160,000 families who live with the disease, in the background. The pandemic has aggravated this situationand we believe that it is time to give Parkinson’s the space it deserves on the political agenda, and address the disease in an effective, fair and equitable manner”, indicates Alicia Campos.
Five years after the approval of the Strategy in Neurodegenerative Diseases of the SNSwhich contemplated in its second phase the publication of a Approach to Parkinson’s disease and Parkinsonisms. This document has been pending publication for more than 2 years by the Ministry of Health and its consequent implementation by the Autonomous Communities. “We believe that the first step is not only to publish this document, but also to allocate resources and funding necessary for its implementation in the Autonomous Communities”, concludes Campos.