Boost for MS Namibia
The FirstRand Namibia Foundation handed over a donation of N$200 000 to Multiple Sclerosis Namibia at a fundraising event held to create awareness about the disease and garner support for the organisation.“I was diagnosed with MS in 2007,” says Bianca Ozcan, Founder of Multiple Sclerosis Namibia. “The sad and shocking news of having MS and having to live with a debilitating disease, made me realise there is more to MS than just living with it. I had to do something to form a base for others in Namibia. That’s when the organisation was established.”
She said that the main purpose of MS Namibia is to raise awareness about the disease to reach an early diagnosis and for extended longevity.
“However, we also support MSers and their families with information dissemination, guidance, medical equipment and supplements if and when our finances allow. Seeing that MS is a rare disease, we work on an estimate of 0.001% of the total population which brings us to roughly 2 400 sufferers. However, on our database we have about 50 patients.”
Speaking on behalf of the FirstRand Namibia Foundation, CSI manager Revonia Kahivere, said that the past two years have taught us that health is the biggest wealth for a human being. “It is with great pleasure that we hand over N$200 000 to MS Namibia. We have been part of MS Namibia in one way or another for many years and are privileged to be able to help.”
Multiple sclerosis – or MS – is a condition that can affect the brain and spinal cord, causing a wide range of potential symptoms, including problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance. It's a lifelong condition that can sometimes cause serious disability, although it can occasionally be mild. There is no cure for MS and this makes it a heavy burden to bear – especially for those that are severely affected by the disease.
The cause of multiple sclerosis is unknown, which means that many people cannot take precautions to avoid this disease. It is considered an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissue. In the case of MS, this immune system malfunction destroys the fatty substance that coats and protects nerve fibres in the brain and spinal cord.