• The 'MS Helpline' facilitates access to resources and assists people living with multiple sclerosis to find the most suitable treatment facilities
• The service is offered daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM in its initial phase
• The MS Helpline is supported by the Mubadala Foundation and operated by M42

Abu Dhabi, 10 December 2024 — The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) has launched the 'MS Helpline,' a new service designed to provide information on specialist Multiple Sclerosis (MS) healthcare practitioners across the UAE. The helpline also offers active listening support and facilitates mental health assessments. It also serves as a data collection tool to build the NMSS’s database and enhance existing programs.

This initiative, supported by Mubadala through the Mubadala Foundation and operated by M42, offers guidance, advice, and information while providing confidential and impartial assistance to the MS community.

The MS Helpline, accessible by dialling 800677, is the first phone-based support initiative for people living with MS in the UAE. It offers access to essential resources, referrals and guidance on clinics with MS specialists and is available from 10 am to 10 pm, seven days a week.

H.E. Ahmed Taleb Al Shamsi, CEO of the Emirates Foundation and Vice Chair of the NMSS, said, “The UAE’s leadership prioritizes advancing healthcare for everyone and the NMSS is committed to improving access to necessary medical services for people living with MS. With the launch of the MS Helpline, people living with MS and their primary carers can now easily access information and resources to help them in managing MS.

“We are proud that this helpline is a regional first for dedicated MS support. We look forward to enhancing the service based on feedback from the MS community, as we move towards its next phase of implementation. The NMSS values its collaboration with M42, and the support provided for the launch of the MS Helpline, which has been instrumental in availing this service,”

“We believe that partnerships and collaborative efforts among various stakeholders are crucial for tackling the challenges of MS and building a supportive ecosystem across the UAE.” Al Shamsi concluded.

Mansour Ahmed Al Ketbi, Deputy Chief Corporate and Human Capital Officer at Mubadala said, “The introduction of the MS helpline is an important service that we are proud to support. Our collaboration with NMSS and Ma'an underscores our ongoing commitment to enhance social efforts that drive positive outcomes in our community. We aim to enhance the quality of life for those affected by MS and ensure they have access to the necessary support and resources.”

Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer at M42 and Chairman of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, added: “We are honored to team up with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to provide an invaluable lifeline to the MS community in the UAE. People living with MS often feel isolated, so this helpline will address their needs and concerns, providing personalized guidance, assistance and support to help them live fulfilling lives and reduce the anxiety associated with the condition. Operating outside of normal working hours, it will fill the gap currently experienced by people living with MS.”

The MS Helpline aligns with the National MS Coalition's objectives, announced by the NMSS on World MS Day in May 2024. The coalition aims to implement a national MS agenda, foster cooperation and knowledge sharing, and establish a formal framework to achieve NMSS’s priorities and mandates and bettering the lives of people with MS.