MOTOR neuron disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are progressive degenerative diseases affecting the motor neurons of the nervous system, and 21 June is Global Awareness Day. According to the Motor Neuron Disease Association of SA (MNDSA), the disease tends to strike people in the prime of their lives irrespective of race, age, sex or creed, bringing considerable psychological and emotional suffering to patients and their families.
“The cause is still unknown, but about five per cent of cases are familial. There is no cure for the illness and average life expectancy is approximately three to five years, but may be as short as one year. About 25 per cent of people survive more than five years. The major challenge is to help with continual physical changes, which often involve the use of expensive equipment to optimise functional ability for as long as possible,” stated MNDASA.
This includes provision of apparatus to support breathing, electric wheelchairs, communication devices and programmes and other equipment which the association loans to patients free of charge to assist them with activities of day-to-day living and to enable them to enjoy their remaining life.
The MNDASA was founded in 1990 and is a voluntary organisation that aims to provide and promote the best possible care and support for people living with MND/ALS, their families and carers and raise public awareness. The association receives no state funding and relies on its own fundraising efforts, membership fees and donations for its income, which is used for patient care, family support, equipment and counselling. For more information, visit www.mnda.org.za or e-mail mndaofsa@global.co.za.
