Puppets to patients' rescue
LIVE LIFE
While World Multiple Sclerosis Day was observed in the Capital, ‘The 1000 faces of Multiple Sclerosis’ was celebrated with a grand Puppet Show and festivities at SelectCity Walk Saket. 
The audience witnessed “The 1000 faces of Multiple Sclerosis” through representation by the well-known Ishaara Theatre Group.
The programme was celebrated to spread awareness about the disease and come to terms with the fact that Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in India is not invisible and neither are the people living with it.
Organised by Multiple Sclerosis Society of India (MSSI), Delhi chapter, the event was attended by a number of patients, caregivers and social activists.
Based on the theme of “The 1000 faces of MS”, Ishaara theatre group gracefully brought to light the numerous issues that are faced by patients of MS in their daily lives through puppets.
But what caught everybody’s attention were 13 feet tall, colourful human puppets which amused the audience with their acts and endeavoured to dispel the stigma that people with multiple sclerosis experience in society.
Supporters comprising patients, caregivers and all stakeholders took part in the human chain which provided a visually powerful symbol for the movement to end MS in India.
Present on the occasion, Bipasha Gupta, national secretary, Multiple Sclerosis Society of India said, “Being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, as with any chronic illness, is difficult.
However, more difficult is to deal with the emotional and psychological effects. We need more number of neurologists and volunteers in the country to deal with the complex problem called MS which has till date no cure but can only be managed.
World MS Day is not just another health day but a genuine effort to gather support for the numerous faceless patients suffering from MS in the country.”
According to the global study conducted by World Health Organization (WHO) and Multiple Sclerosis International Federation between 2005- 2007, there are around 50,000 MS patients in the country.
Doctors are confident that patients of MS can live longer and healthier if the disease is timely diagnosed and effectively managed.
According to Dr M V Padma, Professor, Department of Neurology, AIIMS, “The availability of more diagnostic centres with MRI facility is proving to be a boon for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients for whom the disease can otherwise be extremely difficult to be diagnosed.
Early diagnosis and treatment can slow disease progression and minimize associated disability.”
