Photo Project Launched within the Scope of the ‘Together for Each Other’ Campaign
The presentation of the photo project ‘Life with Multiple Sclerosis’ was held at the Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel, marking the World Day of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). It was launched within the scope of the ‘Together for Each Other Campaign’ and aims to raise public awareness about MS and increase the spread of information about the illness. Photographer Goga Chanadiri is the author of the project, reflecting the feelings of MS patients in his images.
The presentation was attended by the representatives of the Union of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis and Lead Neurologists, who delivered speeches for the audience, pointing out the significance of the active involvement of the government, as well as the public in the project, and accessibility to the right treatment. Representatives of the Ministry of Healthcare, Tbilisi City Hall, Tbilisi Assembly and Parliamentary Committee on Health were also present at the event.
Goga Chanadiri spoke about the process of implementation of the project and expressed his support towards individuals suffering from MS.
“With this project, we would like to deliver the most accurate information regarding the illness to the public and to tell them that multiple sclerosis is not a generally known type of sclerosis and it has absolutely different causes and symptoms. For example, a patient feels a feeling similar to the movement of many ants on the body. We have reflected it on our pictures and delivered it to the audience in an exaggerated form. Financial aid for the patients from the State is also vital, in order not to force them into a sedentary lifestyle all for our indifference,” noted Chanadiri.
Marina Janelidze, Neurologist, Professor of the State Medical University, Head of the Neurologic Department of the Simo Khechinashvili University Hospital, briefed the audience on the causes of the illness and its symptoms focusing on the differences between multiple sclerosis and atherosclerosis. She also noted that multiple sclerosis is a chronic, progressive disease, but early diagnosis and receipt of the relevant treatment may help in curing the patient.
“Multiple sclerosis is a disease which is mostly spread among individuals between the ages of 20-40, and even younger, when patients are mentally, physically and economically active and are in much need of help to be cured,” Janelidze noted. “It has been proven that it is possible to be fully cured through adequate medications and therapy courses at the early stage of the illness. We hope the government will launch programs for these individuals and finance them for treatments and further rehabilitation.”
The patients attending the event spoke about their cases and explained the importance of the disease. They stated that financial assistance from the government is vital for treatment, as it is impossible to forecast the quantity need and added that few can afford the cost of treatment.
Giorgi Chikvania, Executive Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Fund Georgia, expressed his hope that such events will contribute to raising public awareness and helping patients overcome the stigmas and better integrate into society.
“I hope such projects will help the public to change their attitude, and result in fewer patients suffering difficulties in socialization,” he noted.
“This photo project intends to inform the public about multiple sclerosis in the very best way,” said patient Marika Qajaia, a marketing specialist. “What we, the patients, feel is not just typical fatigue, headache or dizziness. This is an indescribable feeling, which Goga managed to reflect perfectly in his images. The photo project exactly displays our problems, which I believe will once again make the government think and make treatment more widely available.”
The ‘Together for Each Other’ campaign, after Tbilisi, will be hosted in Batumi on June 7.
The world MS Day is marked on May 30, which was joined by Georgia for the first time last year. A special video was prepared, seeing patients and public figures untied to call upon the government to increase the availability of treatment for patients to help them improve their living conditions and decrease the progress of skills reduction. The patients are still waiting for financing a year later.
About multiple sclerosis:
Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic, progressive neurological disease. 2.3 million people worldwide suffer from it. The first symptoms are predominantly observed among those 20 to 40 years and it is the main cause of non-traumatic disability in young people.
By Ketevan Kvaratskheliya