PSLEM’s workload has grown with its number of members. The association’s scope of work has also developed over the years to encompass the following tasks:
- Increasing awareness of SLE, its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment among members of the medical profession and the public so as to contribute towards an early diagnosis and proper management of the disease in Malaysia. This is undertaken through its information leaflets, newsletters, public forums, doctors’ forums, and publicity via TV, radio and the print media.
- Educating patients and their family members on the various aspects of SLE through talks, group therapy sessions, and “Doktor & Anda” sessions held during its family camps.
- Providing free counselling services to enable patients and their family members better understand and cope with the challenges of living with the chronic illness. This is undertaken via counselling in hospitals, phone counselling, and face-to-face counselling. Enquiries are also increasingly being received through e-mail.
- Initiating and nurturing the formation of SLE support groups in Malaysia thereby strengthening the social support systems for SLE patients and their family members.