Newly revealed membership figures from a grassroots support group show lupus patients in Fiji are beginning to find one another, but stigma and underdiagnosis remain major barriers to care, founder Rani Hassan says.
Hassan, who established Lupus Warriors Fiji, told local reporters the organisation currently has 38 people formally registered on its database, and a further 58 members in a private online group that she has opened to Fijians living overseas. The network includes patients from Savusavu, Lautoka, Ba and Nadi, and Hassan said the dual register and private forum aim to connect those who are isolated by distance or fear of disclosure.
The numbers are modest, she said, and likely understate the true burden of disease. “Definitely, that is my concern,” Hassan said, expressing worry that many lupus cases in Fiji remain undiagnosed. Her own diagnosis remains a motivating force for the group: “When the doctor told me, I cried, and I sobbed … I thought I was going to die,” she recalled, describing the emotional shock that followed learning she had the autoimmune condition.
Beyond the personal trauma of diagnosis, Hassan emphasised the social obstacles that keep people from seeking help. “There’s a stigma about somebody else finding out … about your family finding out,” she said, noting that fear of being judged by neighbours or relatives often drives patients into silence. That stigma, she believes, compounds the medical risks of delayed diagnosis and treatment.
Hassan acknowledged some positive shifts in awareness and support but stressed the progress has been limited. “Yes, I’m seeing improvements. Not as much as I would want, but it has changed somehow,” she said, indicating incremental gains in public understanding and peer support that still fall short of what patients need.
To address the emotional as well as medical fallout of lupus, Lupus Warriors Fiji runs counselling programmes and outreach for both patients and caregivers. Hassan warned that the psychological strain can be severe: “Patients can feel suicidal because it’s too overwhelming,” she said, underscoring the need for mental health services alongside clinical care. The private online group, she added, provides a confidential space where members can share experiences and information without fear of exposure.
Hassan’s update is the latest sign of a growing, if still fragile, patient-led response to chronic illness in Fiji. While the organisation’s reach is small compared with the wider population, its cross-country contacts and inclusion of overseas Fijians point to an expanding support network. Lupus Warriors Fiji is calling for greater awareness, earlier diagnosis and strengthened psychosocial support to ensure patients do not suffer in silence.
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