Abu Dhabi: The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) has officially launched the MS Helpline, a groundbreaking service that provides support and information for people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) across the UAE.
This new initiative is accessible through the phone number 800 677 and operates seven days a week, from 10 am to 10 pm.
The MS Helpline offers crucial resources, including information about MS specialists, healthcare clinics, referrals, and mental health assessments. It also provides active listening support and serves as a tool for data collection to enhance NMSS’s services and programs.
This initiative, supported by Mubadala through the Mubadala Foundation and operated by M42, is the UAE’s first phone-based support service dedicated to the MS community. It aims to fill an essential gap in the availability of MS-specific healthcare guidance, offering confidential, impartial assistance to those affected by the condition.
Supported by the Mubadala Foundation and operated by @M42Health, @nmssocietyuae has launched the MS Helpline to facilitate access to resources and assist people with multiple sclerosis to find suitable treatment facilities, and offer access to referrals for MS clinics. pic.twitter.com/0d0CDiWm4U
— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) December 10, 2024
His Excellency Ahmed Taleb Al Shamsi, CEO of the Emirates Foundation and Vice Chair of NMSS, emphasized the UAE’s commitment to improving healthcare access, stating that the MS Helpline will help people with MS and their carers manage their condition by providing easy access to information and resources.
Al Shamsi also highlighted the regional significance of the helpline and expressed NMSS’s commitment to further developing the service based on feedback from the MS community.
Mansour Ahmed Al Ketbi, Deputy Chief Corporate and Human Capital Officer at Mubadala, expressed pride in supporting the helpline with research funding for the next three years, reflecting the organization’s ongoing commitment to enhancing social efforts in the community.
Al Ketbi stressed that the helpline aims to improve the quality of life for MS patients by ensuring they have access to the necessary support and resources.
Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, Managing Director and Group CEO of M42, praised the collaboration with NMSS, emphasizing that the helpline would address the isolation often felt by those with MS. By providing personalized guidance and assistance outside of regular working hours, the service aims to reduce anxiety and support individuals in leading fulfilling lives.
The MS Helpline is aligned with the National MS Coalition’s objectives, announced on World MS Day in May 2024. The coalition aims to implement a National MS agenda, foster knowledge-sharing, and establish a formal framework to improve the lives of those affected by MS.
Through partnerships and collaboration, the initiative seeks to ensure that people living with MS in the UAE receive the support and care they need.