Doha Festival City hosted a two-day awareness campaign on multiple sclerosis (MS) in partnership with the Neurology Department and Patient Family Education of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) as well as with the Hamad Outpatient Neurology Clinic.

In line with World Multiple Sclerosis Day and the ongoing #FestivalCares programme, the mall set up a booth to share information about the disease and to provide more information about the support available for individuals and families dealing with multiple sclerosis in Qatar. The theme for World MS Day from 2020 to 2023 is Connections.

According to Doha Festival City General Manager Robert Hall, they are proud of their ongoing partnership with HMC and are happy to support their awareness campaigns through an array of initiatives at the mall.

On this collaboration, Senior Consultant and Director of the MS Program at Hamad General Hospital Dr Dirk Deleu, said that through building strong community connections, they can raise awareness on the disease – its symptoms and treatment options.

We also would like to highlight the importance of early detection and treatment to prevent recurrent attacks and severe nerve damage.

He added that they strongly value their collaboration with Doha Festival City on this awareness campaign and appreciate the opportunity to use the mall as a platform for community health awareness.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis is an auto-immune inflammatory condition caused by damage to myelin – a fatty material that insulates nerves. The damage exposes nerve fibres and affects the way nerves conduct electrical impulses to and from the brain, thereby disrupting the communication between the brain and the rest of the body. Eventually the disease can result in nerve deterioration or permanent damage. In extreme cases, people with severe MS may lose the ability to walk independently.

There are more than 1,200 MS patients In Qatar, mostly young females. MS symptoms can include blurred vision, weak limbs, tingling sensations, unsteadiness, memory problems, and fatigue. The symptoms and their intensity vary from one person to another, so treatments are tailored accordingly.

#FestivalCares

Doha Festival City’s #FestivalCares programme boasts continuous activities and initiatives that aim to give back to society as well as build and nurture meaningful relationships with the mall’s visitors including retailers, shoppers and employees, local government authorities, and communities; and form close partnership with local non-profit organizations.

In line with the measures set by the State of Qatar to limit the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure a safe shopping environment for all, Doha Festival City commits itself to continuous necessary health and safety measures. This includes a thorough mall disinfection treatment on a weekly basis, robust cleaning and sanitizing operations during mall trading hours. They have 127 hand sanitizing stations installed in areas with commonly touched surfaces.

For more information about Doha Festival City, call on 4035 4444 or visit dohafestivalcity.com.


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