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IT'S easy to take for granted simple activities like going out for a pizza or for a refreshing beer, but for some that option isn't on: for those with coeliac disease, a trip to a res- taurant is much more complicated, for they have to check whether the place makes gluten-free dishes, or opt for dishes that are free of the pervading substance. Gluten is explained as a protein composite found in wheat and re- lated grains, including barley and rye. Some sufferers live their entire lives with the disease, others de- velop it at a later stage in life. One thing is certain: living with coeliac disease is a challenging struggle. Sofia Allen, 5 is the daughter of Daniela and Piers Allen, two par- ents who recently gave a series of talks to raise awareness about Coe- liac Disease – Sophia has lived with the disease practically all her life. "When Sophia was just over two she was admitted to hospital suffer- ing from pneumonia. While in hos- pital a series of routine blood tests were taken and while the results were all within the norm, one of them, her haemoglobin, was not," Daniela told me, explaining that the couple were then asked to monitor what their daughter was eating and ensure that she ate more red meat. "Time passed and during the year and a half that followed we kept a close eye on her. She went through endless bouts of what we believed was gastric flu, skin rashes, uneven skin tones on her face, chest infec- tions and a general sense of irrita- bility." The couple had another child on the way at the time and they hoped that what Sophia was going through was just a phase, but they started noticing changes in their daughter around a year later. "Sophia would fall asleep at table just after having lunch, she also started to look very pale while de- veloping dark skin patches around her face and legs. We were ex- tremely worried, but when it was time to repeat her blood tests again, the same results emerged," she ex- plained. Despite doctors' insistence that she continue to increase her daugh- ter's red meat intake, Daniela un- derstood that it might have been something else and she insisted on further tests. "She was referred to Professor Thomas Attard, a paediatric gas- troenterologist and president of the Maltese Paediatric Association, who took immediate steps to test her for what could possibly be the cause of her ill health." Contacted by MaltaToday, Pro- fessor Attard explained that coeliac disease is one of a series of gluten- related disorders which include non-coeliac gluten sensitivity, wheat allergies and wheat intoler- ances among others. He added that the auto-immune disease presents various symptoms such as diarro- hea, abdominal pain and constipa- tion as well as stunted growth in children. If left untreated, coeliac disease could lead to much worse complications like anaemia, infer- tility in women, hepatitis and even loss of hair and dental erosions among others. "Sophia was so unwell by the time we approached the professor. On the day of the appointment she was curled up in her lightweight stroller, hardly able to talk, my heart aching – all she wanted to do was sleep," Daniela said, adding that Prof. Attard's initial suspicions had ultimately been proven correct when Sophia was admitted to hos- pital for an emergency biopsy of the stomach and a colonoscopy, with the results being highly positive to coeliac. Attard also stressed the impor- tance of an early diagnosis, par- ticularly in cases where there was a family history of the disease. "Some people don't even have initial symptoms of coeliac disease, but the disease would be spreading anyway," he said reiterating the im- portance of testing for those who have a family history. "Genetics are thought to play a very strong role in the transmission of the disease," Attard said. "Those with first degree relatives who have the disease have a 10% risk of con- tracting the disease themselves even if they don't develop any symptoms." Daniela Allen explained that her daughter's diagnosis came just a few days before her fourth birth- day, "in fact, we were planning her birthday party while still at Mater Dei – it kept her busy and gave her something to look forward to," she said. "The school she was attending at the time was also marvellous and prepared a huge get well soon card for her to enjoy while she was in hospital," Daniela said, recalling the particularly tough days. "Luckily however, we were told that once we eliminated gluten from her diet she would recover and live a normal life again – if we did not, the consequences would be serious and could even lead to can- cer in her small intestine." Daniela added that adapting to the new reality took quite a while and that she was plagued with con- cerns about how she would cope, how she would inform all those around her and whether her daugh- ter would feel excluded in activities involving food. "Almost two years later and Sophia is in optimum health, she has learned to give up the food she so loved before and has adapted to the necessary changes. It took us maltatoday, SUNDAY, 10 MAY 2015 16 News Operational Programme II – Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 ANNOUNCEMENT European Social Fund The Managing Authority for Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 in Malta, the Planning and Priorities Co-ordination Division (PPCD) within the Ministry for European Affairs and Implementation of the Electoral Manifesto (MEAIM), would like to announce that it is launching a call for project proposals, to be undertaken by Ministries, Government Departments, Central Government Authorities and the Public Sector Companies. This Call will close on 11 th September 2015 at noon and will contribute to the priority axes and investment priorities listed below: Priority Axis 1 – 'Investing in the employability and adaptability of human capital' ! Investment Priority 8i – Accessing to employment for job seekers and inactive people, including the long term unemployed and people far from the labour market, also through local employment initiatives and support for labour mobility. ! Investment Priority 8ii – Sustainable integration into the labour market of young people (ESF), in particular those not in employment, education or training, including young people at risk of social exclusion and young people from marginalised communities, including through the implementation of the Youth Guarantee. Priority Axis 3 – 'Investing in people through Education, Training and Life Long Learning' ! Investment Priority 10ii – Improving the quality and efficiency of, and access to, tertiary and equivalent education with a view to increasing participation and attainment levels, especially for disadvantaged groups. ! Investment Priority 10iii – Enhancing equal access to lifelong learning for all age groups in formal, non formal and informal settings, upgrading the knowledge, skills and competences of the workforce, and promoting flexible learning pathways including through career guidance and validation of acquired competences. Additional guidance is available online on http://eufunds.gov.mt/opencalls (PPCD section). The online application form for the submission of project proposals and detailed Guidance Notes will be available later on in May on http://eufunds.gov.mt/opencalls. Prospective applicants are encouraged to refer to Operational Programme II available on the above link and the Guidance Notes in order to check whether their proposals are eligible for funding through this call for project proposals. Information sessions are being organised for prospective applicants. Applicants are invited to enrol by filling in a registration form (available on http://eufunds.gov.mt/opencalls) by 27 th May 2015 at noon. The dates and subjects of the sessions are as follows: 2 nd June (general overview); 16 th June (how to apply online); 23 rd June (how to plan a project proposal); 30 th June (how to implement a project proposal). Additional sessions may be organised depending on requests received. Further information and generic queries on this call and on the European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020 may be obtained from www.eufunds.gov.mt or from PPCD's Email Helpdesk: info.ppcd@gov.mt. Operational Programme II - Cohesion Policy 2007-2013 Empowering People for More Jobs and a Better Quality of Life Advert part-financed by the European Union European Social Fund (ESF), Co-financing rate: 85% EU Funds; 15% National Funds Investing in your Future Martina Borg Coeliac disease: A 'Some people don't even have initial symptoms of coeliac disease, but the disease would be spreading anyway' The Allen family – living with coeliac disease is a challenging struggle