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ME/CVS Vereniging
The ME/CVS Vereniging (ME/CFS Association) was the patient association for myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome in the Netherlands during 2005-2011.[1]
Goals
The association aimed to advocate the interests of all patients and their kin in the widest sense of the word. Priority in the policy plan for 2006-2008 was to provide information, since according to the association there was a serious lack of knowledge about ME/CFS in the Netherlands.[2] The association also aimed to combat prejudice and discrimination[3][4][5] and to foster patient contact. In addition, the association stimulated, reviewed[6] and supervised[7] scientific research, and together with other patient organizations represented patients in the development of protocols and guidelines.[8] The ME/CVS Vereniging published the magazine Lees ME[9] (Read ME), as well as leaflets, brochures, an electronic newsletter, etc.
History
In 2003, the ME Stichting (ME Foundation, now ME/CVS Stichting Nederland), founded in 1987, was advised to transform into a democratic organization. According to an independent bureau, it did not properly look after the interests of the patients.[10] A number of patients concluded that the advice had been ignored and started the ME/CVS Vereniging on April 15, 2005.[11] Three years later, the association had 300 members.
Role in ME/CFS guidance in the Netherlands
A research project supervised by the ME/CVS Vereniging suggested poor knowledge of ME/CFS among physicians.[7]
The Vereniging participated in a platform where patient organizations for various disorders aimed to develop a common policy with regard to the development of guidelines and protocols.[8] The first Dutch insurance protocol for CFS, published in 2007[12], was severely criticized by the ME/CVS Vereniging, as was the NICE Guideline for England and Wales[13], alleging that both are misrepresenting the disorder and putting undue emphasis on behavioral therapies.[14][15] The ME/CVS Vereniging participated in the production of a Dutch multidisciplinary guideline for CFS, which was due in 2008/9, a.o. by sharing authorship of chapters on criteria and tests and by providing information on patient experience.[16][17]
The ME/CVS Vereniging was mentioned on most internet pages that deal with ME/CFS and/or patient organizations.[18] It ran the largest ME/CFS patient hyve on the Dutch Hyves.[19]
Finance
Financially, the association depended on membership fees, donations, gifts and project subsidies.[20] The standard contribution per member was 25 Euro annually.
Lees ME
Lees ME was the journal of the ME/CVS Vereniging.[9] New issues appeared about three times a year. The journal featured information, commentaries, interviews, columns, human interest stories, as well as scientific articles, reviews and overviews.
Educational Films
In 2006 the ME/CVS Vereniging asked students from the Hogeschool Rotterdam to make an educational film on ME/CFS. The film features medical expert Dr. Ruud Vermeulen (CVS Research Centrum, Amsterdam) and patients Christine van Reeuwijk and Arno Hogendoorn. On YouTube the film received the highest possible rating. A new group of students made a second film for the ME/CVS Vereniging in 2008.
Books by members
- Van Reeuwijk C, "Wie weet morgen. Over leven met een minimum aan energie", Narratio, 2003, ISBN 9052632014
- Schonckert M, "Meer dan moe. Een andere visie op ME/CVS", Houtekiet, 2006, ISBN 9052408718
External links
- ME Vereniging Nederland
- ME/CVS Vereniging (archive)
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