Salma Said, a 23-year-old Abu Dhabi resident, had by no means heard of a couple of sclerosis (MS) whilst she experienced her first attack on her 20th birthday. Initially misdiagnosed, her symptoms worsened until she misplaced imaginative and prescient in one eye, leading her to consult a neurologist. After great checking out, she turned into identified with MS, a continual neurological situation affecting tens of millions international. Salma’s story highlights the challenges many MS patients face in receiving well timed and accurate diagnoses.
Raising Awareness Through Community Initiatives
March marks Global MS Awareness Month, and groups in the UAE have taken tremendous steps to support those laid low with the disease. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) released the second one edition of ‘Move for MS’ to encourage bodily hobby and community involvement.
A standout initiative turned into the ‘Community Step Challenge,’ which endorsed contributors to music their steps the usage of the STEPPI app, aiming for 10,000 steps per day. This year’s mission recorded 262 million steps, masking an excellent 153,000 km—equivalent to circling the Earth three times.
“Walking and movement are powerful tools for dealing with MS,” stated Iman Dia Eddin, a player within the NMSS project. Diagnosed with MS in 2017, she located that collaborating in such sports not most effective advanced her bodily fitness but also reinforced her feel of network.
Navigating MS in Daily Life and the Workplace
Two years after her initial prognosis, Salma faced her 2d MS assault, which affected her mobility and elevated her sensitivity to warmness. “It made each day activities greater hard,” she recalled. Fatigue stays a persistent assignment, often exacerbating signs and symptoms including blurred vision and eye stress.
Receiving an MS prognosis can be overwhelming, and Salma’s enjoy become no specific. She struggled to recognize the sickness and its long-term implications. However, through the years, she adapted and is now dedicated to elevating cognizance and supporting others facing comparable demanding situations.
Despite her talents and qualifications, Salma encountered difficulties finding work, specially because of the lack of expertise about MS in professional environments. She often chooses not to disclose her circumstance to capacity employers, fearing discrimination. “I don’t need to be perceived as vulnerable or incapable. My work should communicate for itself,” she defined.
Currently running in healthcare IT, Salma hopes to transition into coaching. “I love coaching and aspire to educate students in laptop science and AI,” she shared. Her journey underscores the need for inclusivity in the workplace and higher understanding of persistent situations like MS.
The Role of Movement in Managing MS
Both Salma and Iman emphasize the importance of physical hobby in managing MS symptoms. Walking and normal motion help keep muscle strength, enhance stability, and reduce fatigue. “Exercise has now not best stepped forward my bodily mobility however also more advantageous my mental well-being,” Salma stated.
Similarly, Iman found motion to be a vital issue of her MS adventure. Diagnosed right after high college, she to begin with struggled with fatigue and uncertainty approximately her destiny. However, with guide from her family, she pursued a diploma in pharmacy and is now efficiently running in her field. “MS will never be a barrier to my goals,” she affirmed.
Spreading Awareness and Strengthening Support
Maral Alexandrian, Acting Executive Director of NMSS, highlighted the impact of cognizance tasks. “Move for MS demonstrates how collective efforts thru partnerships and community participation can power change,” she said.
Beyond the marketing campaign, NMSS maintains to expand help for the MS community via investment research, growing treatment suggestions, and presenting assets inclusive of the UAE’s first MS helpline. With MS prevalence rising inside the Middle East—affecting 19 in each 100,000 humans in the UAE—initiatives like ‘Move for MS’ play a essential position in lowering stigma and empowering those living with the condition.
A Call for Greater Awareness and Inclusivity
Salma’s tale is just one of many highlighting the need for more MS recognition within the UAE. From early analysis and scientific support to workplace inclusivity, a greater informed society can higher support people tormented by the situation. As focus campaigns keep to gain traction, they pave the manner for a future in which those dwelling with MS can lead gratifying, unbiased lives without fear of stigma or discrimination.
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