Today,
may 29th, is multiple sclerosis (MS) day. Held annually at the behest
of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation, the campaign is taking
place for the fifth time this year and aims to educate the public on the nature
of the condition and its impact on the lives of sufferers.
Multiple
sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common neurological disorders and causes of
disability in young adults. It is found in every country in the world, where
epidemiological data exists. It affects an estimated two million people
worldwide, although it is likely that many hundreds of thousands more remain
undiagnosed*. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 25 and 31,
with approximately twice as many women diagnosed than men. It is not yet known
what causes the disease, and as yet there is no cure.
The
severity of the course of MS as well as the symptoms can vary widely among
individuals. These can include blurred vision, weak limbs, tingling sensations,
unsteadiness and fatigue. For some people, MS is characterised by periods of
relapse and remission, while for others it has a progressive pattern. Some
people may feel and seem healthy for many years following diagnosis, while
others may be severely debilitated very quickly. For everyone, MS makes life
unpredictable.
In
terms of the actual day, summary of what’s going on in a few countries this
year:
- The Brazilian Association of MS (ABEM) will celebrate World MS Day with lunch and live music at ABEM HQ and a TV appearance by neurologist Liliana Russo.
- Cyprus MS Association will hold a press conference in Nicosia.
- MS Society of Canada will illuminate Niagara Falls in red from 9 to 10.30pm. They’re also organising a social at the local Crowne Plaza overlooking the Falls to watch the spectacle.
- The Finnish MS Society is organising a festival in Helsinki for World MS Day. Singer Saija Varjus will perform at the event which will be hosted by MP Jani Toivola. Other activities will include an acrobatics performance and a solidarity chain in the form of ‘MS’.
- The MS Society of Norway will hold a conference on disability and employment in Oslo. Politicians and representatives of health authorities, labour unions and disability organisations are expected to attend the conference. Visit the Society’s website for details.
- Swedish MS Foundation is holding an information event in Lund, Sweden. Click here to look at the event programme and to register for the event.
- AEDEM will be forming chains of solidarity in Madrid and other major cities in Spain to mark World MS Day 2013. Their young persons group AEDEM Young will also encourage young people to join their ‘The Missing Piece is You’ campaign and raise awareness on social media.
For further details, see the official campaign site
Posted by Tim Sandle
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