IN conjunction with the World Multiple Sclerosis Day, 2018, Saed Charity for supporting MS patients has recently set up in Dammam a 2-day Symposium for Community Awareness about Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and how to deal it. The symposium was organized by Roche Saudi Arabia, a leading healthcare company which provides all kinds of psychological, social, health and financial support to patients who are suffering from the disease, in addition to building partnerships with associations, governmental institutions and other stakeholders to achieve their goal in serving patients of the disease. The Symposium has been conducted by Francois Meurgey, Senior Associate at Management Centre Europe (MCE).

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mohammed Al Gharib, General Manager, Roche Saudi Arabia, said: These events and initiatives play a key role in helping patients and their families to understand their rights and responsibilities and to help them explore health care experience properly”. Dr. Al Gharib told that role of supporting groups for patients is very important in building capacity and leadership among the patients.”

“We are making all possible efforts in partnership with health and charitable organizations to provide complete support for MS patients to help them cope with the disease and to provide them information and details that will reduce their suffering and educate the surrounding community about their disease, its stages and how to deal with the patients,” he added.

Mrs. Asia bint Abdullah Al Alsheikh, CEO, Saed Charity for Supporting MS Patients, said: “Our purpose is to provide programs, services and resources to people with the disease to help them improve quality of their life. Liaising with the government and other relevant bodies on related issues, and advocating for rights of all people with MS. Specifically, we aim to classify the disease within Non Communicable Disease of the Seventh Disability in the Ministry of Health.”

“Under the vision 2030, the Ministry of Health is going through practical changes in its role and strategy. In its approach, among its declared goals include enhancing quality of life for individuals, and empowering individuals and their families to gain more control over their health issues and make healthy choices to lead an active and productive lifestyle. Focus is on prevention rather than treatment. Here, we see importance of complementary role within public sector role. Patients’ organizations, as representing the patients’ side are essential partners with policy makers, pharmaceutical companies and other service providers, and the rest of stakeholders. Also, we have 3 organizations that cater to MS patients. Each has its own strength and focus, and includes neurologists experts in it. Naturally this reinforces the role of the patients’ organization in shaping the healthcare system in Saudi Arabia,” Mrs Alsheikh added.

Although, there are no accurate statistics yet, but there has been an increase in spread of the disease. Therefore, there has been a recent interest in establishing various partnerships with patients' centers to provide them with best services, in addition to establishing various activities for patients, providing important medical information about patients' medicines and complications. This is what patients need to know. In addition to upgrading the medical staff working in the field of MS through seminars and workshops supported by these companies to familiarize them with latest methods of diagnosis, treatment and follow-up, where Saudi Arabia has become one of the advanced and prominent countries in the field of charity based on scientific foundations and institutional systems. — SG