Produced by Amigos pela Esclerose, the web series “Information is the best medicine” seeks to bring complex themes about life and the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Always bringing quality information and proposing a reflection on the stigma of having a neurological disease.
The Association Many friends for MS (AME) launched, on August 30, the third episode of the web series “Information is the best medicine”. With the participation of patients, specialists and AME members, the launch marked the Day National awareness of multiple sclerosis and the countryside Orange August – promoted by AME since 2014. In 2024 the web series had as its theme the dilemma: “Diagnosis: To Tell or Not to Tell?”.
THE multiple sclerosis It is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, so much so that the immune system begins to attack the myelin sheath of neurons. This can cause damage to neuronal function.
Double vision, muscle weakness, imbalance, lack of coordination, tingling, fatigue and urinary problems are the most common symptoms of the disease. Most people experience the first symptoms between 20 and 40 years old. From that point on, many are faced with the dilemma of who to reveal their diagnosis to.
According to Denis Bichuetti, a neurologist specializing in multiple sclerosis and the protagonist of the episode, lack of knowledge and fear of prejudice are the main factors that lead his patients to feel insecure in revealing their diagnosis, “most people do not see any advantage in revealing their diagnosis, on the contrary, they fear disadvantages”. Furthermore, many fear legal uncertainties: the diagnosis in itself does not guarantee legal protection.
Although multiple sclerosis is not synonymous with inability to work, approximately 40% of people with this diagnosis in Brazil are out of the labor market. Discrimination, indefinite workload and lack of structure in the workplace are some of the factors that make it difficult to keep a job. For Bichuetti, lack of information and lack of flexibility on the part of employers are the factors that most affect patients in the labor market.
Information is the best medicine
The web series “Information is the best medicine” seeks to bring complex themes about life and diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Always bringing quality information, with testimonies from people living with this condition and experts. The series was released in 2023 and you can access all three episodes on AME YouTubeThe launch took place simultaneously online and during a guest event held in São Paulo at Cine Marquise.
After the episode aired, representatives and activists of AME held a debate on the topic discussed, available on the association’s Instagram @amigosmultiplos. Orange August 2024 benefits from social investments by pharmaceutical companies Roche, Sanofi and Merck.
About AME
Since 2012, our main motto has been to bring together people and institutions related to the cause, spread knowledge about multiple sclerosis and contribute to early diagnosis. We work to be a bridge to represent the perspective of people living with MS through research in the field, especially to involve them in the decision-making process on the cost of new health technologies and, therefore, provide information, support and quality of access to care the lives of people affected by multiple sclerosis.
Website: https://amigosmultiplos.org.br/
Source: Terra
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