UAE – The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Community Development has introduced its new non-governmental organisation, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), in Abu Dhabi.
This new non-governmental organization was recently launched in the interest of advocating for issues affecting the MS community.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s primary objectives is to improve the quality of life of multiple sclerosis patients and help raise community awareness of this unpredictable disease.
Led by NMSS, MS Circles will mobilize people living with MS to discuss key topics around MS with the aim of building a wider, bigger MS community.
This initiative will assist in deepening understanding of key issues affecting the MS community to gain better support and ensure relevant policy change in implementing community interventions.
During the launch event, Mansour Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, asserted: “The NMSS’s main goal is to empower and support people with MS to live their lives to the fullest, and work towards creating a world without multiple sclerosis.”
He outlined that the National Multiple Sclerosis Society will pave the way for the development of innovative treatments for MS.
This society will work closely with relevant government institutions such as the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) to enhance the long-term health and well-being of MS patients across the UAE.
Multiple sclerosis affects around 2,000 people in the UAE, with women being 3 times more likely to develop it than men, according to Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City.
This potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord encompasses a variety of symptoms that can be diagnosed and treated but it has no known cure.
To fill the gaps in multiple sclerosis treatment, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is investing in a national MS registry to develop a better understanding of the prevalence of the disease in the UAE.
NMSS has joined forces with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Public Health Center, and G42 to track the number of people with MS and the progression of the disease in the UAE.
The Chairman of the DoH underscored that the launch of the UAE’s first MS registry marks a pivotal step that will help researchers and doctors around the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in providing advanced and personalised levels of care for all members of the community.
“The National Multiple Sclerosis Society seeks to make a real difference in the lives of people living with multiple sclerosis, and to support them as we work together to seek better treatment, and ultimately, a cure,” noted Mansour Al Mansouri.
This non-profit will focus on identifying solutions and providing access to the critical resources needed to ensure early diagnosis and drug intervention to prevent or delay disability progression for patients with MS.
It is expected to create a holistic ecosystem for the MS community in the UAE, provide resources for people living with multiple sclerosis, and support global efforts to find a cure for the disease.
Overall, the new National Multiple Sclerosis Society seeks to reduce the rising prevalence of multiple sclerosis in the United Arab Emirates.
“To tackle the negative impacts of MS on our community, Abu Dhabi’s healthcare sector has invested in advanced technologies and medical research to enhance MS management, including establishing specialised MS clinics and rehabilitation centres,” confirmed Mansour Al Mansouri.
For all the latest healthcare industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, and YouTube Channel, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook.
