Below we have video footage from the Multiple Sclerosis Patients Friends (MSPF) World MS Day 2012 conference in Palestine:
Attendees included people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their families. The conference took place at the MSPF head quarters in Nablus city. Palestinian ministers of health and social care talked about living with MS and employment.
The Union of Estonian MS Societies hosted World MS Day (WMSD) 2012 at a shopping centre in the capital city of Tallinn.
The day opened with the unveiling of the ‘Under Pressure’ exhibition which had been shown at the European Parliament earlier in the month of May. The exhibition is a series of artistic photographs taken by award winning European photographers. Each photograph depicts the experiences of people living with MS across Europe. The project- which was commissioned by the European MS Platform (EMSP) and funded by the European Union- aims to challenge preconceptions about MS and raise awareness about the disease.
Marilyn Smith the coordinator of the Under Pressure project attended the opening of the event. In an interview with Martin Banks from TheParliament [LINK] she stated;
“I’ve been very moved and inspired by the positive attitude people with MS involved in the project are able to maintain, regardless of their situation. I hope the images we’ve gathered will not only challenge people’s perception of MS, but that it will prompt decision-makers to take action.”
More than 700 members of the public attended the exhibition which aimed to raise awareness of what it’s like to live with MS for people in Europe- including Estonia.
World MS Day 2012 - Estonia
Merike Martinson, Deputy Mayor of Tallinn gave a supportive speech at the event opening. Pille-Katrin Levin, Chairwoman of the Union of Estonian Societies stated;
“We were extremely glad to have the author of this magnificent project, Marilyn Smith, with us for the opening on 30 May. I’m also grateful to our members and volunteers, who passed out information pamphlets about MS and encouraged shoppers to participate in ‘hidden symptom’ simulations to better understand life with MS.”
Shoppers were challenged to play Harry Kestlane at a game of chess. Harry is a trained cartographer who was blinded by a MS relapse several years ago. Using his memory and mapping skills Harry checked the progress of the chess game when playing others.
Chessboard challenge
Raising money for the society was also an important objective on the day. Badges were sold to the public to raise funds for MS research whilstspecialist nurses provided medical information to the public. WMSD fundraising activities also took place in the second largest city of Tartu.
Fundraising badges
Congratulations to the Tunisian association of multiple sclerosis patients (ATSEP) who opened a brand new clinic on World MS Day (WMSD) this year. This is the first specialist clinic of its kind in Africa. There are more than 6,000 people living with MS in Tunisia, and this clinic will provide much needed access to dedicated MS services and care.
World MS Day 2012 -Tunisia
Professor Marc Debouverie, of the regional hospital attended the event. Dr. Debouverie, the dean of the Nancy medical centre hosted an event for people with MS where he aimed to improve their knowledge about the disease and introduce them to the latest research projects and developments. There was also an opportunity to raise public awareness through the press who also attended. Other medical professionals also attended the event. Professor Faysal Henteti, head of neurology at the Hospital of Neurology in Mongi Hamida and neurologist Riadh Gouider, head of Razi Hospital of Tunisia provided the latest MS treatment updates.
The opening of the MS clinic is a milestone event for Tunisia and for Africa. We look forward to seeing many more springing up across the continent in the coming years!
Several Spanish multiple sclerosis associations including AEDEM-COCEMFE celebrated World MS Day (WMSD) 2012 together. MS associates joined hands on 30 May to create human chains across Spain. MS supporters gathered at 12pm in Spanish cities nationwide to join hands.
The event slogan was ‘Join in for multiple sclerosis research’. The human chain reached a distance of over 12 kilometres and more than 24,000 people joined the chain virtually on the AEDEM-COCEMFE website.
Human Cordon
Many activities took place on the day. Balloons were released to raise awareness and commemorate the day and MS advocates came together to read a new manifesto advocating for a better quality of life for people with MS. Donations were also collected for MS research.
Human Cordon in Spain (World MS Day 2012)
The event gave new people a chance to learn about MS. AEDEM-COCEMFE encouraged their members to upload photographs to the World MS Day website. You can read the postcards from Spain on the World MS Day Map here.
World MS Day 2012 - Spain
The WMSD 2012 event received lots of media attention in Spain. Reporters from the first Spanish national newspaper EL Pais attended the event. WMSD received major television coverage on Tele 5 who filmed the event and interviewed people. SER and RNE radio stations also help to raise MS awareness around the world.
World MS Day 2012
The Association of anti MS (ALEM) organised several awareness raising activities this year. On 20 May ALEM hosted a day at the Joaquin Antonio Uribe in Medellin. The beautiful garden has developed from farm land into a historic site of nature.
ALEM associates checked the blood pressure and blood sugar levels of event attendees which included people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their family members. The event focused on raising awareness of MS and other general health issues. TENA held a presentation about MS and bladder weakness. TENA provided leaflets and information from their stall to guest at the event.
The day also included fun activities such as a bingo tournament and guessing games. Guests enjoyed a picnic lunch in the garden conservatory. The fun activities provided entertainment and helped bring guests closer together. The friendly atmosphere made it easy for guests to share their stories about living with MS.
On 26 May ALEM Colombia hosted a teleconference. The teleconference was held from 8am to 12pmin the capital city of Bogotá. The Colombian Neurological Association provided essential MS medical updates over the telephone. On 1 June ALEM took part in a national television interview to raise national awareness about MS across Colombia.
Have a look at some of the images from World MS Day 2012 Colombia in the gallery below.
