Sponsored by the Health Ministry and the Lebanese Society of Rheumatology, alongside the Association of Arthritis Patients in Lebanon, the month-long campaign will raise awareness about the prevalent autoimmune disease, thought to affect around 20 million people worldwide.

The degenerative disease causes inflammation of the joints and leads to swelling, severe pain, stiffness, severely limiting movement and leading to various other complications. The main focus of the campaign is to “endorse early detection of signs and symptoms as well as techniques to impact treatment decisions, therefore improving the patients’ quality of life,” organizers said. A walkathon in aid of the cause, as well as news conferences, lectures and an “awareness village” to be set up in Beirut Souks are all planned during the month of June.