Home - Rheumatology For All

OUR MISSION

About Rheumatology for All

Rheumatology for All’s mission is to increase access to rheumatology care in under-resourced regions. Our aim is to create self-sustaining rheumatology training programs by funding the education of local physicians to become rheumatologists and providing educational programs for local physicians.

The Challenge

Millions of people throughout the world cannot get professional care for painful and debilitating rheumatic diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, etc.
Why does this matter? Without treatment people suffer pain, disability and possibly death. Rheumatic diseases are most common in young women but everyone from young children to the elderly can be affected.

The Solution

Educate local medical students, doctors in training and healthcare professionals so that rheumatology healthcare is continuously renewed with tomorrow’s health leaders

What's Happening?

Editor’s Pick: Building Sustainable Rheumatology Care in Africa

The members of the board of Rheumatology for All are proud to share the attached article,”The Editor’s Pick” which was in the June 2026 issue of The Rheumatologist, the official American College of Rheumatology publication. Enjoy! https://www.the-rheumatologist.org/article/building-sustainable-rheumatology-care-in-africa/

Rheumatology For All Growing in 2026 and in the Spotlight

Expanding Our Reach in 2026 Rheumatology For All is excited to broaden its activities in 2026. Starting in January 2026, we will contribute to a monthly virtual tutorial program for the rheumatology fellowship in Accra, Ghana. This program, established by Dr. Dzifa Dey, serves a country with only two practicing rheumatologists, one of whom is… Read More »

Spring 2025 Rheumatology for All Update

Progress of Rheumatology in Ethiopia We are pleased to report on the progressive growth of rheumatology in Ethiopia, an East African country with a population of over 120 million people. Your donations and support for RFA made it possible for us to support the training of two adult and one paediatric rheumatologist in South Africa.… Read More »

Spring 2024 Rheumatology for All Update

Dr. Yewondwossen receives Lifetime Merit Award Rheumatology for All (RFA) is delighted to announce that one of our esteemed founding members, Dr. Yewondwossen, has been honored with a prestigious Lifetime Merit Award by the Ethiopian Medical Association in the presence of the Health Minister. This award stands as a pinnacle of recognition within the medical… Read More »

Global Facts

Africa is presently home to 1.2 billion people, 16% of the world’s population.
Africa has only 2.7 physicians per 10,000 population, compared to 5.9 in South East Asia, 12.7 in the eastern Mediterranean, 15.5 in the western Pacific, 21.5 in the Americas, and 32.1 in the European region .
Minimal research on rheumatic disorders is done as most African countries lack national agencies responsible for funding and conducting medical research.
Urbanization has resulted in an increase in the prevalence of gout, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and scleroderma over the past four decades.
According to the 2010 Global Burden of Disease survey, rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases are the second leading cause of disability. worldwide.

Afomia Needs Our Help

If she cannot go to school, she will not be a wage earner.

“My name is Afomia Hailu I am a 23 year old girl. I graduated in civil engineering with 2.60GPA. I live in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and I’ve been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and started taking medications NSAIDS like prednisolone but as you know there are no practicing rheumatologists in my country. I’ve been to many doctors including a neurologist and I seem to be getting worse and I have run out of options. I need your help to get treated by a rheumatologist. I hope I hear from you soon I will be waiting for your email. Thank you.”

INCREASING ACCESS TO RHEUMATOLOGY CARE IN RESOURCE POOR AREAS

Difficult or Impossible to Work with Arthritis