Needs treatment for AED 70k per year

Multiple sclerosis threatens um Fahd's life

Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) has developed a treatment program for um Fahd. Cinematographer: Najeeb Mohammed

The patient (um Fahad, 39 years old), has been suffering from multiple sclerosis for five years, and according to Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, the patient needs lifelong therapeutic drugs costing 70,<> dirhams annually, and the problem is that she suffers from difficult financial conditions that prevent the price of treatment, and appeals to the owners of white hands to extend a helping hand to her and help her manage the cost of treatment so that she does not live in a wheelchair for life.

um Fahd told the story of her suffering to "Emirates Today", saying that she contracted the disease five years ago, specifically at the beginning of 2018, when she was exposed to the first attack of the disease, as she felt several symptoms of constant dizziness with body imbalance while walking, and both her feet were weak and could not walk without leaning on something for fear of falling to the ground, in addition to that the disease caused her numbness in all parts of the body.

She added that she went to Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City and was examined by doctors and conducted tests and analyzes, and it was found at the time that she had multiple sclerosis, and according to the symptoms that afflicted her, she stayed in the hospital for some time, and a treatment program was developed that is a drug containing cortisone intravenously for three days.

um Fahd added that during her time in the hospital, medical tests were carried out in the form of blood tests, magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and spinal cord, and withdrawal of cerebrospinal fluid, where the medical results showed that she was positive, to prove again that she had multiple sclerosis.

She pointed out that the medication that was dispensed to her is a treatment for multiple sclerosis that she takes twice a day to stop and delay any adverse attacks, and according to the development of the disease, which may end her condition to a chronic physical disability that requires her to stay in a wheelchair forever, and she must continue to take this medicine for life, as it helps stabilize her health condition without any developments on the disease.

um Fahd explained that the monthly cost of treatment is 5833 dirhams, or 70,<> dirhams per year, and the problem is that her modest financial capabilities do not allow her to manage this amount, explaining that she had a card «Aounak» in the past, which covers the costs of treatment in full, but now the renewal of the card has been refused, and she has become confused in managing the cost of treatment.

She pointed out that she is currently completely unable to manage the cost of medicine, so that she stopped taking treatment for several months, which led to the appearance of symptoms again and she felt weak in her left leg, and she visited the hospital and was diagnosed again and found new signs of the disease in the body, and currently stands unable to act.

She stated that two of her sisters were also infected with this disease and the cost of treating each of them is 180 thousand dirhams per year, and one of them has a card «Aounak» that covers the costs of her treatment, pointing out that her family consists of nine members, and her father works with a salary of 5000 dirhams, and she works with a salary of 10 thousand dirhams, and her older brother works with a salary of 9000 dirhams, and the total salaries go to the necessities of life, housing rent and treatment of her sister, appealing to good people and people with compassionate hearts to help her with the cost of treatment so as not to multiply the symptoms of the disease It turns into a lifelong life.

Multiple sclerosis

According to the medical report issued by Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City Hospital, the patient is 39 years old, suffering from multiple sclerosis for five years, and needs treatment in the form of multiple sclerosis medication, which she takes twice a day, and the cost of treatment is AED 5833,<> per month.

Multiple sclerosis or encephalomyelitis is inflammation caused by damage to the insulating membrane of neurons in the brain and spinal cord. This damage disrupts the ability of parts of the nervous system to communicate, leading to a number of symptoms and signs of illness, including physical or cognitive mental symptoms, and sometimes in the form of psychological problems.

The causes of the disease are unclear, but it is thought that the mechanism of the disease may be either damage to the immune system or failure of myelin-making cells. Possible causes of this disease include genetic factors and environmental factors such as infection.