What is MS and MSSI?
Multiple Sclerosis is a disease of the Central Nervous System, affecting its functioning unexpectedly and repeatedly, resulting in devastatin2 disabilies in voun2 adults in the vrime of their lives. MS has various symptoms ranging from minor visual disturbances to total paralysis, due to which simplest everyday tasks can no longer be efficiently performed. It is a mysterious crippler disease of the young adults. But it is not contagious or hereditary. A few years ago Multiple Sclerosis was thought to be rare in India but with modern techniques like MRI scan etc now more cases are diagnosed than earlier.
Since the inception of Multiple Sclerosis Society of India on July 26, 1985, the Society has played an active role in the field of welfare for persons suffering from Multiple ScleIosis. The Society is servicing nearly 1000 patients all over India through the. Head Office in Mumbai and branches at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Calicut, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Nasik, and Pune. The MS Society of India is affiliated to the International Federation of multiple Sclerosis Societies, UK MSSI Services Identification of MS patients and initial helpThe Services includes identifying Multiple Sclerosis cases by visiting hospitals and Neurologists. Due to this effort the hospitals and doctors contact the MS Society for financial help for MRI Scans and hospitalization expenses for the needy patients. After giving the initial help the Society regularly follows up and helps the patients by offering them various services available. The Society sends their Social Worker who counsels and helps the newly diagnosed patients and their family members to come out of their initial trauma and accept the disease.
Free Supplementary medicines These medicines are supplied to needy patients at monthly Diet Workshops. Several Pharmaceutical companies donate some of these medicines i.e. Becosule, Evion, Celin, Sirdalud etc.

Physio/Occupational Therapy
The aim of MSSI is that each MS patient should lead as full a life as possible. Physio/ Occupational Therapy is adjunct to medical
symptoms and after effects of the bouts of attacks. Therefore the Society provides free Physio/Occupational therapy thrice a week by sending their therapists to all the home bound patients. The role of the therapist is to give therapy to the patient for one hour ar',d counsels them if needed.
The Society also provides free of Charge Wheelchairs, Walkers, Canes, Waterbeds and various other Physiotherapy equipments and incontinence products.
Disability Certificates
Disabled persons are entitled to various benefits like income tax rebates, concessions for train and air travel etc. To get these benefits they are provided with Disability Certificate which is issued only by selected Govt. Hospitals all over India. In Mumbai the procurement of this certificate used to be quite tedious and time consuming. The Society requested
the Medical Director of authorized Hospital to
issue these most essential certificates at the Society's Free Medical Camp which is held in Mumbai every year. For those who are unable to attend the Camp, the MSSI staff arranges to get these certificates from the government hospitals with minimum stress and fatigue to the patients.

Rehabilitation
The employed Multiple Sclerosis patients in India find it difficult to convince their employers about the complexities of Multiple Sclerosis as a disease, and their unusual fatigue problem. Therefore they tend to lose their jobs with the advent of the disease. In this matter the MSSI tries hard to convince the employers. The Society also helps patients who have lost their jobs by trying to establish a new way to gain income, by providing computers, sewing machines etc, and also by acquiring telephone booths in public places which patients' or their family members can run, to make them economically independent.
Workshops and Seminars and Free Camps
            The Society organizes various workshops
for the benefit of the patients. Physiotherapy
READER.S REQUEST
workshops are organized to guide the therapists about special exercise useful to manage MS. Occasionally yoga workshops are held. Renowned doctors also conduct medical Seminars from time to time to guide patients and their families to cope up with the disease by answering their queries.
Free Annual Medical Camp
The Annual Free Medical camps organized by the Society deal with full medical checkups and examinations of MS persons under one roof by distinguished doctors from various faculties. This Camp is very popular amongst MS families.

Home Visits
Volunteers, office bearers, and social workers maintain regular contact with the patients by telephone or by home visits. All patients and their family members look forward for these visits.
Fundraising
All these services require constant flow of funds. From time to time we organize different fundraising projects. The Society raises funds through various fundraising programmes. It also approaches the Corporate Sectors and individuals. All Donations are exempted under 80G of the Income Tax Act of 1961 and Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
Our Sincere Appeal To
a) MS Patients To become a membr of the
Society, free of charge if needed and to avail all the above facilities.
b) Doctors and Hospitals To inform MS patients under your treatment about the MS Society and its Services. Also to refer MS cases to the society for National Data Collection.
c) General Public To volunteer your free time and resources to help these patients which will bring a little sunshine in their lives.