Mr. Speaker, members of the Scleroderma Society of Canada are here in Ottawa to meet with officials from Health Canada.
They have designated June as Scleroderma Awareness Month and are working hard to inform Canadians and the government about its seriousness.
Scleroderma is a progressive and chronic connective tissue disorder that causes the thickening, hardening and scarring of the skin and other organs. It is a highly individualized disorder and symptoms and severity can range from mild to potentially life-threatening.
Scleroderma affects women four to five times as frequently as men and its exact cause is still unknown. While many symptoms can be improved with medication and lifestyle changes, there is still no known cure. There is a need for more research and studies.
I would like to thank the Scleroderma Society's president, Shirley Haslam, and its regional support groups and volunteers for their dedication to raising awareness about this disease.
I also call upon the government to increase investment in research that would find a cure for this debilitating disease.