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Long COVID continues to pose significant challenges for people across Canada, with experts calling for greater investment and support to address the multifaceted impact of the condition, according to a recent report from Simon Fraser University.

The report, released by the SFU-based Pacific Institute on Pathogens, Pandemics and Society (PIPPS), demonstrated the need for enhanced awareness and education among healthcare professionals and the general public to mitigate stigma and acknowledge the debilitating effects of long COVID as a legitimate disability.

Kayli Jamieson, a long hauler who co-led the focus groups contributing to the report, highlighted the pervasive disbelief surrounding long COVID, both within the medical community and society at large.

"It's an invisible and new condition," Jamieson stated, suggesting the urgent need for broader societal awareness and recognition.

Long COVID, characterized by persistent symptoms following a COVID-19 infection, affects millions of Canadians, often requiring prolonged leave from employment to manage symptoms.

Despite the prevalence of the condition, accessing healthcare remains a challenge for many, with 40% of sufferers reporting difficulties.

Jamieson, who contracted COVID-19 in 2021, shared her struggle with long COVID, detailing cognitive difficulties, fatigue and a myriad of other symptoms that have significantly impacted her daily life.

The report's findings indicated the necessity for a cultural shift in acknowledging and addressing long COVID, advocating for increased funding for research and support initiatives.

Kaylee Byers, the study's principal investigator, stressed the broader societal implications of long COVID, noting the urgent need for comprehensive support systems and patient-centered research.

"Through conversations with patients, caregivers, clinicians, and researchers, we've come to recognize that long COVID doesn't just impact individuals, it impacts communities," Byers remarked, Medical Express reported.

She also highlighted the pressing need for coordinated efforts to address the multifaceted challenges posed by the condition.

Experts now urge policymakers and healthcare stakeholders to heed the report's recommendations, fostering greater awareness, support, and research investment to alleviate the burden faced by people grappling with this complex and debilitating condition.