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Multiple Sclerosis can be controlled to lead fruitful lives
View(s):By Kumudini Hettiarachchi
Multiple Sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease which impacts on the brain, spinal cord and optic nerve, is controllable. Those affected by MS, a disorder of the young, can lead a normal life – work, get married and have children.
This is the crucial message that Consultant Neurologist Dr. Bimsara Senanayake, attached to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) is spreading loud and clear.
Dr. Bimasara Senanayake
The dire need is for MS to be identified early so that disease-modifying medications can be prescribed and measures taken to suppress MS, so that the affected person can lead a normal life, he said.
Explaining that the symptoms of MS can be missed or misidentified as they strongly mimic many other neurological conditions including stroke, he said the average age of onset of MS in Sri Lanka is around 29 years. Even though mostly young females are affected, many male patients have also been identified.
It hits those in the prime of life and across the board – whether professionals, outdoor workers or non-working people and those in different social strata, it is learnt.
As Founder President of the Sri Lanka Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders (SLCTRIMS), he assures that everything possible is being done to conduct awareness campaigns including among doctors and other healthcare staff.
“We want to re-assure people that Sri Lanka has neurological facilities and tools such as MRI scanning to ‘catch’ MS early,” said Dr. Senanayake.
He cited two cases – a female engineering student and a female medical student. There had been eyesight issues in both including blurring and double vision initially, which could have easily been overlooked as vision problems. They had been diagnosed as having MS. They are on medications and living normal lives.
Compared to the past, 83% of MS patients are able to live independently now under current management protocols, Dr. Senanayakereiterated, explaining that those days it was only less than 50% who could do so.
A glimpse of Patient Day at the SLFI
USA’s Mayo Clinic Professor of Neurology, Prof. Eoin Flanagan on a visit to the Institute of Neurology of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL)
It is not just better awareness that has led to this change but also other factors including a strong collaboration with the Mayo Clinic in the United States of America; the Health Ministry bringing in disease-modifying medications; there being specialist clinics and also registries.
The NHSL’s MS Clinic has nearly 400 patients diagnosed and confirmed with MS. This Neurologist estimates that there are over 2,000 patients across Sri Lanka.
In collaboration with the Mayo Clinic, around 2,500 patients in Sri Lanka have been tested for other antibodies to rule out diseases that mimic MS, he said.
With regard to SLCTRIMS, an independent professional organization, Dr. Senanayake said that it was founded in December 2018. The Executive Committee comprises Neurologists Dr. HarshaGunasekera, Dr. T.Thivakaran, Dr. Arjuna Fernando and Prof. Thashi Chang, all of whom including himself have a special interest in MS and related disorders.
While SLCTRIMS is modelled on similar regional and national organizations in Europe, America, Latin America and Pan Asia including India, it shares knowledge, expertise and research on the diagnosis and management of patients.
It is working closely with the Pan-Asian Committee on Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (PACTRIMS), its regional partner which has helped SLCTRIMS to link up with the European Charcot Foundation (ECF), a leading MS research group in Europe.
Time for a photo after ‘SLCTRIMS 2026’
| Numerous activitiesTwo highlights with regard to MS have been ‘SLCTRIMS 2026’, the 7thAnnual Congress held in Colombo on January 17 and 18. The other is the ‘Patient Day’ focusing on education, connection and shared experiences from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on January 15, at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI), Colombo.With enthusiastic patients gathering at the NHSL at 8 a.m. to be transported to the SLFI, the day had been packed with educational talks by neurologists; small-group interactions with doctors; interactive and creative sessions; and fun times of music, social interaction and shared experiences, topped off by refreshments and lunch. | |
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