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With 2010 fast approaching, we are looking forward to continuing to strengthen our membership base and reach out to MS organisations in countries and regions where it are currently under-represented.
This year MSIF welcomed the All-Russian MS Society as an Associate Member and the Neurologiskt Handikappades Riksförbund from Sweden as a Full Member.
MSIF’s Corresponding Organisations have increased in number with the addition of the United Arab Emirates MS Support Group, following the February 2009 MSIF Arabic Development Seminar, and, more recently, the Chilean Agrupación de Enfermos de Esclerosis Múltiple whose campaigning activities have featured in Making Connections throughout the year.
Chilean Agrupación de Enfermos de Esclerosis Múltiple representatives campaigning on World MS Day 2009.
Across the globe MS organisations, both large and small, are engaging with policy-makers, the medical community and raising awareness to promote the MS cause.
In Chile the Agrupación’s successful lobbying has led to MS being included in the Auge-Ges state health plan from July 2010. This will mean more affordable treatment for many more Chileans with MS. Until 20 December 2009 a 20-second television spot by the Agrupación, expressing their gratitude for the change in legislation, will be running on the Chilean television network. View the spot here.
In November MSIF’s Corresponding Organisation in Ghana, Sharecare Ghana (Sharecare4u), was invited to make a presentation at the 51st Annual General Conference of the Ghana Medical Association. Sharecare4u is a support group, founded in 2006, for people in Ghana affected by rare neuroimmunological conditions including MS, transverse myelitis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), optic neurosis and neuromyelitis optica (Devic's disease).
Nana Yaa Agyeman, Coordinator of the support group, presented a ten minute film, highlighting 'autoimmunity' as a disease speciality, and the need for referrals in order for early diagnosis to be made. The presentation was well received and it is hoped that more medical students choose to specialise in fields such as immunology as a result
The Saudi MS Forum, another of MSIF’s Corresponding Organsations, is a growing online community with over 2,500 members.
The Forum now has a Facebook group with over 100 members and Facebook page with over 280 fans. Their Facebook Arabic MS Cause has been very successful with over 700 members.
The Saudi MS Forum Facebook group.
Source: MSIF
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