Central SA
More African women diagnosed with MS─── ZENANDE MPAME 10:11 Fri, 30 May 2025
There is a notable increase in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) diagnoses among African women, challenging the belief that MS is a Western disease.
This increase highlights the need for broader public health awareness and early detection in all communities this World MS Day, said Roche Pharma South Africa medical director, Dr Michelle Roberts. World MS Day is observed every year on 30 May.
It is estimated that more than 5,000 South Africans live with MS, according to Multiple Sclerosis South Africa. The World Health Organisation estimates the worldwide number at 1.8 million.
MS is one of the most common diseases of the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. “There is a notable increase in MS diagnoses among African women, challenging the belief that MS is a Western disease,” said Roberts.
“This highlights the need for broader public health awareness and early detection in all communities. MS is often called an ‘invisible condition’ due to its subtle symptoms, which include numbness, vision changes, fatigue, and balance issues.”
These signs are frequently overlooked, and that’s why early evaluation is crucial if you are experiencing more than one of these symptoms, to enable early diagnosis and early treatment, she said.
To those newly diagnosed or living with MS, Roberts advises that they build a strong support network, help their family understand the condition, and stick to treatment plans to manage symptoms and progression, seek accurate information, and create a personal life management strategy to live fully.
In commemorating World MS Day, people who are recently diagnosed are advised to lean on their support structures, and for people – especially their family – to understand what they are going through, so they can provide adequate support.
“There is a fear of being in a wheelchair, the fear of blindness, loss of income, loss of work, and I think all of those fears are real for people who are diagnosed with MS,” said Roberts.
“But what’s important is that once you understand the aetiology of the disease and adhere to the medication, you can really experience the controlled quality of life.”
MS Hope, a group created for people living with MS, will be hosting a picnic function at the Noordskool Hall in Sasolburg on Saturday (31/5) for MS Warriors, family, and caregivers, to celebrate life and to commemorate World MS Day.
