WORLD MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS DAY IN RUSSIA

Russian people with MS and all those affected by the disease are welcoming the World MS Day (WMSD) in Russia. This event mobilizes the efforts of Russian activists in their fight against MS even harder while uniting them with numerous colleagues throughout the world. We strongly believe today that we have all capabilities to work effectively. Now, it is important to learn more, teach others and just keep on working, which will help give the best mark for the activities done in the end. What we need to achieve that is really know we are not alone.

We have heard a lot and, perhaps, spoken ourselves about ‘the feeling of fellowship’, how helpful it is in our activities and what productive team spirit it creates. There are many testaments to the proverb ‘one man in the field is no warrior’. Most likely, there had been no such unity among people, who would act and think alike in order to improve the quality of life of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) before the attempt of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF) to do the first ever World MS Day on 27 May 2009. Indeed, it was the biggest action as each participant could feel in the global team, while the scope of events carried out within the framework of WMSD surely highlighted MS as a pressing problem as well as concerned those, whose opinion is counted and listened to and who is able to influence PwMS’ life.

In Russia, WMSD was, perhaps like in many countries, a trial balloon. However, our experience so far of implementing activities to benefit and advocate PwMS let us escape having a modest role, while our overseas colleagues were carrying out functions of large dimensions. Take, for instance, “Roll for MS” cycling and motorcycling events in Europe and Northern America – it is really breathtaking to see the strong approach that is used there to raise awareness of MS! Two women with MS climbing Mount Everest can more than encourage an upmost naysayer.

Yet, Russian people did not talk about WMSD alone but they were also doing something towards it. Everyone was free to choose the form and dimensions of an event to conduct. As usually, the Samara branch of the All-Russian MS Society was working a lot to get involved, but it was a good surprise to learn that other our colleagues in regions (provinces), significantly, and in their own way, contributed to the GLOBAL MS MOVEMENT and did their bit to reach the moment when we shall END MS.

Thus, in expectation of the World MS Day our workfellows in the Tula regional branch of the Society, in despite of current difficulties, managed to organize a meeting, where physicians, public authorities and PwMS were sitting together at the table. WMSD was not the only topic of their talk, since such companions should always have something to discuss. The persons with MS there talked about plans for the future with the people, who are immediately responsible for making relevant decisions.

During the function, the participants received some books as gifts. For instance, some of the physicians got the book ‘Syndrome of Upper Motor Neuron’, while Aleksandr Popov’s book was among participants ‘like hot cakes’. That day was also the starting point for the traditional action in the Russian MS movement ‘white ribbon’, which volunteers would tie to trees and other objects to draw attention of most people and, certainly, authorities. This helps raise awareness of MS among governmental authorities and the public. At the meeting, the officers pledged they would cover WMSD in the media.

In Voronezh, where the ‘Solominka’ newsletter is made - the newsletter to help fight the disease - the first two pages of the printed publication were dedicated to the Word MS Day.

Newsletter readers were interested in WMSD events that were taking place in other countries. The All-Russian MS Society staff attempted to do more and published WMSD news generated by MSIF on the website of the Society. Those news became immediately open to all Russian-speaking readers online, which helped greatly to raise awareness of WMSD and events held within its frames.

In Russia, the World MS Day was marked all over the country. In the far-eastern city of Vladivostok, PwMS chose for that their regular venue for meetings, i.e. the MS centre. Our colleagues held a conference there, during which the participants could have their questions answered. Though, WMSD in Vladivostok was not turned into another working day. The society members gathered in a café and went on marking the Day but in a more homelike atmosphere.

The Ulyanovsk regional branch of the All-Russian MS Society was also welcoming and encouraging people affected by MS to join the global movement.  Apart from the party for members of the society, much work to raise awareness was done among public authorities. Thus, the society staff sent the press-release about the World MS Day to the media, non-for-profit organizations of disabled people, the Department for social protection of the Ulyanovsk region, District Departments for social protection in the city of Ulyanovsk, etc. Moreover, on 27 May there was the Round-Table held in the City Duma (Parliament) to conduct the ‘Discussion of President Medvedev’s speech at the 7 April Session of the Presidential Council for the Disabled’. Tatiana Bezhanova, chairman of the All-Russian MS Society’s branch, complimented those present (there were representatives of non-for-profit organizations, Ulyanovsk city and region executive and lawmaking authorities) with the World MS Day. At last, on that very day the Ulyanovsk MS society held a tea-party for society members, which was dedicated to WMSD. People liked the party and decided to have another one to mark the All-Russian MS Day.

In expectation of the World MS Day, an MS Week was held from 20 to 27 of May in the city of Samara.

The action was organized by the Samara regional public MS organization (the Samara branch of the All-Russian MS Society).

On the first day, an exhibition-competition of creative works made by disabled people was opened, and it was working all the week long.

Next day, a charity party for PwMS took place.

On the third day, the society members enjoyed a concert given by students of Children School 20 – dancing group ‘Triumph’.

On the fourth day, PwMS and their families and friends went out and offered white ribbons (symbolizing MS) to residents of Samara, as well as posters and information messages.

The fifth day was marked by a gala-party dedicated to the World MS Day.

This week was excellent to kill the stigma given to PwMS, who are often associated with the loss of memory and declining years. Surprisingly, general public found young people among PwMS, who are in need of assistance and support.

It might be a coincidence that the anthem in the Samara branch of the All-Russian MS Society was written by the World MS Day. Even so, there are no further coincidences. Shortly before WMSD, students of the Samara State University department of social work chose to contribute to the global event in their own way. So, they held an action on housecleaning in PwMS’ places. The students visited PwMS with severe disabilities and tidied their homes. Actions like this in Samara unfold within the frames of ‘The Week of the Good’, when some assist disabled persons in their homes, while other participants of the action are busy with urban greening. However, this action cannot be called as a one-time service, since University students have been engaged for years in assisting lonely disabled ones by housecleaning, being on their errands to do shopping and other requests. Toward the World MS Day, the Samara branch of the All-Russian MS Society conducted a meeting with students of the University department of social work, which resulted in the development of a programme and signing a collaboration contract with the Samara State University.

Another significant activity by the World MS Day was the holiday event on 26 May with the participation of the heads of Social Service Centres at the Samara Ministry of Health and Social Development that was followed by drink reception and a concert.

Also, at the exhibition-competition all invitees could see creative works, handworks and pieces of arts and crafts made by the disabled.

In conclusion, I’d like to stress again the significance of marking the World MS Day as a date, when international efforts of MS movement mobilize, and we can take pride in seeing how numerous and strong we are in our struggle against the common trouble. However, I had better conclude by the wish our colleagues from the Taganrog regional branch of the All-Russian MS Society expressed, who also rated WMSD high but wished so that people with multiple sclerosis should be attended not only on such major occasions but also throughout the year.

Vice President, All-Russian MS Society