As part of the ongoing MS Knowledge Series, a significant awareness program was organised on March 9th to educate the public about Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and the unique challenges faced by the patient community. The event, held at the Trivandrum Press Club, was presided over by Dr. Jayachandran D., President of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of India (MSSI). The gathering saw a heartfelt participation of over 100, including patients and their families.

Key Highlights

• Official Launch: The Hon’ble Minister for Higher Education and Social Justice, Dr. R. Bindu, inaugurated the session and officially released the MS awareness short film titled ‘Oppam‘.
• Government Commitment: During her address, Minister Bindu emphasised that the Kerala Government is steadfastly committed to ensuring the availability of high-cost medications and specialised services for MS patients through the State Initiative on Disability (SID) and the Kerala Social Security Mission (KSSM).
• National Leadership: MSSI Trivandrum Chapter Secretary Ramkumar M.R., in his welcome speech, noted that Kerala holds the distinction of being the first state in India to design and implement a specific welfare scheme tailored for MS patients.

Expert Sessions & Insights (MS Knowledge Series)

A core component of this MS Knowledge Series event featured specialised technical sessions providing a holistic view of the condition:

• Clinical Perspectives: Dr Sruthi S. Nair (Neurologist, SCTIMST) and Dr Neethu (Government Medical College, Kottayam) provided expert insights into the medical management and clinical aspects of MS.
• Psychosocial Support: Public health researcher Dr Burhana Ajmi addressed the mental and social hurdles patients encounter, advocating for stronger family and community support systems.
• Patient Registry: Mr. Manoj Kurian (Project Officer, KSSM/SID) detailed the importance of a comprehensive patient registry for effective service delivery and urged all patients to register on the kssmsid.org portal.

Distinguished Guests

The event was graced by noted film actress Priyanka, who played a lead role in the short film. Other key attendees included Dr. Prakash Prabhakar (Director of ‘Oppam’) and Dr. Rahul U.R. (State Nodal Officer for Child Health & Rare Diseases).

This event concluded with an interactive Q&A session where patients shared their personal journeys, fostering a sense of community and shared hope.