Ahmed Shatila…an inspiring story about living with multiple sclerosis

To the great Tunisian (Abu Dhabi) Dr. Ahmed Shatila, one of the most prominent neurologists, winner of the 11th Abu Dhabi Award, who lives with multiple sclerosis, is a supporter of the multiple sclerosis community in the country, and has outstanding contributions to community service. He emphasized that multiple sclerosis is a disorder. It affects the central nervous system, disrupting the flow of information in the brain, and stopping messages between the brain and the body. It affects more than 2.9 million people around the world, and results from damage to myelin, which is the protective layer of nerve fibers that allows the nerves to transmit impulses to and from the brain.

It affects women more

Ahmed Shatila, a neurology consultant, director of the private multiple sclerosis clinic at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City in Abu Dhabi, and head of the medical advisory committee for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, explained that multiple sclerosis causes hard scars to appear in many areas of the brain and spinal cord, in areas where Myelin is lost, indicating that it is a disease that affects women more than men, and its peculiarity is that it is an immune disorder, where the immune system, which usually helps fight infection, mistakes the myelin as a foreign body and attacks it, and researchers have not yet been able to find out the exact cause. Which led to this attack on myelin by the body’s immune system, and in an attempt to determine the causes, ongoing research is focusing on a group of factors including age, gender, genes, environment, immunity, and infectious factors.

Regarding his inspiring story, Shatila pointed out that he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of twenty-one, and at that time he was studying medicine, but he knew nothing about it, and this diagnosis contributed to his choosing to specialize in studying neurology, and he added: “In fact, the medical profession is a humanitarian profession.” Very much so. I had the opportunity to engage in the world of medicine and experienced the same symptoms experienced by the people I help through my work as a doctor. “Multiple sclerosis has given me a great ability to empathize and influence at the same time, so I bear the responsibility of educating the community to understand multiple sclerosis and support those living with it, through my work with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.” Treatment and Hope With regard to the treatment of multiple sclerosis, he stated that until now no cure for multiple sclerosis has been developed, but research is proceeding at a regular pace, in search of this treatment, and the positive dimension in this matter is that treatment plans and protocols have advanced and developed a lot, and currently multiple sclerosis cases are being managed. By prescribing drug treatments for acute inflammatory attacks or relapses, we as doctors direct patients to medications that reduce the risk of further inflammatory relapses, which we can call disease-modifying therapies, in addition to having treatments that contribute to slowing the progression of the disease. I stress that successful management of multiple sclerosis requires following a healthy, balanced diet, exercising, and undergoing rehabilitation sessions if necessary. As Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in the UAE, Shatila stressed the importance of health awareness as one of the important elements of any successful treatment plan, and explained that in the case of multiple sclerosis, and because it is a disease for which there is no definitive treatment, knowing ways to control it and deal with its repercussions and symptoms is easy through education. Individuals identify the causes of deterioration, and encourage them to follow some positive behaviors that will improve their overall health conditions. He added: “From my own observations, many of the cases that witnessed a deterioration in symptoms were the result of wrong practices related to prevailing nutritional patterns, lack of exercise, or lack of regular treatment.”

He continued, saying: “I make sure to inform those who visit me at the private multiple sclerosis clinic in Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City about these matters, and to educate their health care providers, whether they are family or friends. And of course, the multiple sclerosis awareness movement has gained momentum and strength with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, as the society organizes seminars with specialists on a regular basis, in addition to the Fitness with Multiple Sclerosis program, which supports a healthy lifestyle for people living with multiple sclerosis.” Coexistence said: “There is no single pattern, or specific form, for the condition of a person diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, as its symptoms and developments differ from one person to another, and therefore multiple sclerosis affects those diagnosed with it in different ways, and there are no two people exposed to the same symptoms, and its common symptoms include motor spasticity and vision disturbances.” Fatigue and difficulties walking. These effects may be temporary or long-term. The good thing is that by giving the affected person priority to his health and adhering to the advice of specialists, these symptoms can be managed well, and the presence of an understanding and supportive community, whether within the family or work context, contributes to treating these symptoms. ».

Chatila pointed out that people living with multiple sclerosis face the risk of depression, so paying attention to mental health is very important, just like taking care of physical health, as negative thoughts can affect the health of the body, and we call for focusing on the positive, which allows people living with multiple sclerosis to face challenges. And stimulate their minds to remain active and alert. This is why we call people with multiple sclerosis coexisting, because they can live with the disease and avoid many of its problems by changing their lifestyle. Regarding the efforts of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, he said: “Our efforts to raise awareness of multiple sclerosis, its symptoms, and the importance of detection and diagnosis began from the moment the National Multiple Sclerosis Society was founded. The awareness movement also took a major boost with the founding of the Society in 2022, and awareness efforts are moving along two paths. The first track: is to introduce the community to multiple sclerosis, its symptoms, and its nature, to mobilize the efforts of various individuals and institutions to support the multiple sclerosis community, especially those living with it and primary care providers. The second track: to educate the medical community and those newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis about ways to live with it and maintain their health, and at the level of the track. The first year, 2023, witnessed the association leading the UAE’s participation in World Multiple Sclerosis Day for the first time, and this year we launched many awareness activities, including the health sector and society, and we also launched the UAE’s guidelines on multiple sclerosis, to unify clinical practices and treatments in the care of multiple sclerosis, and this It benefits doctors and patients, and enhances their knowledge of multiple sclerosis.