Maranda van Dam becomes Africa's first patient research partner for axSpA

The Axial Spondyloarthritis Association of South Africa (Asasa) proudly celebrates a historic milestone as its founder and chairperson, Maranda van Dam, from Great Brak River became the first patient research partner in Africa, recognised by the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (Eular) School.

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Diagnosed with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in 2016 after an 8.5-year diagnostic delay, Van Dam transformed her personal struggle into a powerful force for change. In 2018, she founded Asasa, initially as a private Facebook group to connect and support those living with axSpA. Today, Asasa has grown into a vibrant community of over 1 000 members, offering a safe space for patients to share experiences, access resources and find empowerment.

Under Van Dam's leadership, Asasa has trained 350 physiotherapists, 150 optometrists and 100 general practitioners to improve early diagnosis, addressing South Africa's average diagnostic delay of 10.8 years.