Berk Can Dereci (OMÜ Kurumsal İletişim Koordinatörlüğü Haber Merkezi)
The "Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Patient Camp" was held at the OMTEL Hotel within the Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU). The camp, now in its 10th edition, hosted 120 patients from all over Türkiye. The aim of the camp was to help patients learn how to live with MS in their daily lives and provide rehabilitation. The program included various activities ranging from nutrition education with dietitians to yoga and pilates.
Providing information about the camp, OMU Vice Rector, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, and Head of the Department of Neurology at the Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Dr. Murat Terzi, stated, “MS (a disease characterized by muscle weakness, balance disorder, walking and speech difficulties, and affects the central nervous system) is not widely known in society, but these kinds of events increase awareness and knowledge. The first clinical symptoms of MS typically appear between the ages of 20 and 40 and are more common in women. In this program, organized with MS patients and their relatives in Samsun, we bring together our psychologists, physiotherapists, and dietitians to educate our patients on how to eat and exercise properly. Through this program, our patients learn how to live better lives with MS and manage their journey with the disease more effectively. While we diagnose and plan treatments in our hospitals, these camps help our patients continue their lives more consciously. We have participants who have attended the camp six times, as well as first-timers this year. We hope that these events will continue into their 20th and 30th editions in the future. These programs are vital in improving the quality of life for MS patients and better managing the disease process.”
Highlighting that the last week of May is celebrated as MS Week worldwide every year, Prof. Dr. Murat Terzi continued: “Samsun is making significant efforts in diagnosing MS patients, planning treatments, and increasing awareness. As the President of the Turkish Neurology Society, I can say that we highly value these kinds of events. However, we should prioritize such events not only in May but every month. It is of great importance for all of us that society is aware, the quality of health services received by MS patients and their relatives is improved, and the level of awareness in society is increased. Thanks to this camp, participants will leave with increased self-confidence and more knowledge about MS. From our experiences in previous camps, we see that patients sometimes come here with apprehension. However, after a few days, they become a team that does not want to leave. With this accumulation of knowledge and energy, they become individuals who can express themselves better and feel happier in their families and cities.
Additionally, we are utilizing artificial intelligence while evaluating the data of our MS patients. AI studies, especially on MR imaging, are ongoing both in Samsun and other provinces of Türkiye. We are developing AI models to assess the physical and cognitive conditions of MS patients. We evaluate our patients by teaching data to the machine through machine learning. These studies are carried out with the efforts of a large team. We are progressing together with our patients by keeping up with scientific developments.”
Emrah İnan, an MS patient who came from Switzerland for the camp, shared his impressions: “This is my second time participating in this camp. It is a wonderful feeling to come together with friends with MS. It was great to learn new information from them during activities, to be together, and to repeat the exercises taught by our doctors. We aim to increase MS awareness this week and are actively interacting on social media for this purpose. We want those who do not have MS to understand MS better. This is not an easy process, but I believe that by sharing these camps and experiences, we can achieve this.”
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