Unique photo exhibition – social project – “hands” concludes regional tourists with guest host in Rezekne

From 26 November to 8 December, the municipality of Rezekne, in the municipality of Rēzekne, the liberation alley 95a, every scar and city guest is welcome to look at the photographs of the photo exhibition - the “hand” art and documentary photo of the social project. Rezekne is one of four cities in Latvia where the unique photo project is seen in this autumn. More than ten photographs known in Latvia have been donated to the exhibition “hands”. Its aim is to reflect the importance of hand and movement in human life, while calling for care to be taken of their health, thinking about pain and their impact on everyday life.
Latvian photographers participate in the social project for the second year. At the 2014 exhibition “hands” participates in Nathalie Gusakova, Aigars Jansons, Karina Jurciņš, Dagmar Legante, Eddie Palene, Anrijs Pojarskis, Evija Trifanova, Kluks Vasilevskis, Zigismunds Zalmanis and Ilmārs Znotiņš. Photographer works show the hands or movements of different ages, social layers, professions people. The exhibition also documented the everyday life of people suffering from rheumatic diseases. Photographers have told stories of several personalities, living with various forms of rheumatic diseases.
The stories produced by photographer override stereotypes that arthritis is just an old man's disease. In the exhibition, “hand-held” photo stories give you the opportunity to explore the unprofound nature of rheumatic diseases, show the strength of your personality and the desire to survive in the smallest detail, achieving your goals. Photo exhibition – “hands” of social projects is implemented by the association of Latvian bones, joints and connective tissue patients (LKLSSB) in collaboration with SIA “Roche Latvija”.
The exhibition, as of October 2014, when the month of celebration of rheumatic diseases is celebrated throughout the world, has been seen in Riga, Valmiera and Tukums, where it has received undivided recognition of its visitors. In Riga, the center, the exhibition was viewed daily by more than 20 000 Riga residents and city guests who visited the gallery, it can be estimated that more than 200 000 people have seen the exhibition. In Valmiera, in Valmiera Cultural Centre, it was viewed by almost 10,000 stakeholders. The Exhibition of Tukums had also spoken and had been visited. Rezekne is the city in which the travelling social project – the “hand” path of the photo exhibition will be concluded this year.
The social project and the exhibition “hand” designers have chosen a photo exhibition as a special form that reminds that rheumatoid arthritis can start at any age, but mostly people aged between 25 and 55. It is estimated that in Latvia, a third of the population is faced with a variety of rheumatic diseases affecting their quality of life, the ability to work, sport, carry out a wide range of and more routine duties. It should be noted that women are affected by this disease two to three times more than men. Approximately 15% rheumatoid arthritis is a severe form of disease characterised by persistent joint pain and swelling, severe disability and loss of functional capacity. Joint pain, stiffness, limited mobility in patients limit the ability to perform daily activities and create a job inability.
Marika Karlson, spokesman of THE central board OF THE LCLSSB, says: “In Latvia, a third of the population is suffering from a variety of rheumatic diseases. The arthritis is not regrettable and is neither old nor young nor poor or rich. We are all responsible for assessing the nature of the natural gifts that we have given. The human body is complex and we must be able to listen to it. For example, you should not suffer from unpleasant feelings and health problems, but instead go to your family doctor with questions and take action to change the situation. For a second year, through this exhibition, we are storing and showing people the importance of movement and joints, calling for attention to be paid to our feelings and calls for a reflection on the everyday life of our patients. It's a giant value for spinning and doing. Everyday things. '
Karlsone notes that although there is a large number of rheumatic patients in the country, it is not possible to get to a doctor at least in a row with rheumatologists for several months. The availability of Reimatologists in the regions should also be improved. It should be noted that the pain inherent in the various forms of arthritis is hampering the lives of a healthy daily life, so that the attendance and availability of the doctor is a very important aspect of the quality of the day-to-day life. She also notes that greater attention should be paid to early diagnosis of the disease as well as to the quality of the aids. Patients in Latvia still face high investigations, medication and social care costs. Biological medicinal products, which prevent the disease from developing, stop tissue damage in joints and prevent damage to the joints for most of the patients in Latvia, are available. However, long lines and long-term waiting – even half a year on the visit to the doctor – allow the disease to develop and make it difficult to treat. Similarly, the diagnosis is not evaluated - because it is delayed, the more complex and longer-term treatment in patients is necessary and a larger number of people lose their health, gain disabilities. In 2013, only 2944 Latvian residents were diagnosed with first-time disability.
THE LKLSSB recalls that there are a number of essential preconditions to be met by each of them in order to reduce the possibility of “placing” the disease. The medical treatment of rheumatologists should be sought if there is continuous joint pain for more than 2 weeks, swollen joints, movement restrictions in joints, morning stiffness in joints for more than ½ hours, unjustified tiredness that does not go beyond rest. Only to learn more about arthritis and other musculoskeletal diseases can start the fight with them in a timely manner and reduce their impact on everyday life and preserve the opportunities to live full-time.
Additional information on musculoskeletal disorders can be obtained in homepages www.artrits.lv and www.reimatik.lv
Marika Carlson
Representative of Latvian kaulu, joint and connective tissue society, e-mail artrita.biedriba@gmail.com, phone 29824155