Visiting a workshop supporting Sudanese refugees with MS

This summer the Sudanese MS Society organised a series of workshops training healthcare professionals to support Sudanese refugees in Egypt with MS. People with MS who fled the war in Sudan shared their stories, highlighting the importance of both medical and psychological care. The workshop was supported by an MSIF grant to improve healthcare expertise on post-traumatic stress disorder and MS. Learn more in this moving account from MSIF’s Head of Communications, Campaigns and Advocacy Abdelfatah Ibrahim.

‘As I sat in an uber heading from my family’s place in the outskirts of Cairo towards the city centre, my mind couldn’t help but wander back to 2011. Passing through Tahrir Square, memories of the revolution flooded back—those days of uncertainty, worry, and upheaval that shaped the lives of many people in Egypt, including mine. As I approached the venue, I was reminded of how such instability can impact people, especially those affected by MS.

I was attending a July workshop organised by the Sudanese MS Society and supported by the MS International Federation (MSIF)’s organisational development grant. The goal of the workshop series was to equip Sudanese healthcare professionals with the necessary skills and understanding to support people with MS who have fled the war in Sudan.

The session I attended focused on the complex intersection of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and MS, particularly for those who have witnessed the brutalities of war. 30 healthcare professionals from various specialisations gathered to learn and share their experiences.

What made the session truly remarkable were the three individuals living with MS who had themselves fled Sudan and were now living in Egypt. They shared their personal stories with the group, offering invaluable insights into the dual challenges they face. Listening to them, it became clear how the war had drastically shifted their priorities—from seeking regular MS treatment to simply seeking safety. The war has made their needs far more complex than those of the average person with MS. They also shared their strategies to adapt and manage life with MS both during the war and after they fled their country.

The healthcare professionals in the room listened intently, many nodding as they recognised the unique and multifaceted challenges of treating MS within a refugee population.

The session was more than just a training; it was a powerful reminder of how war impacts not just nations, but individual lives—particularly those already battling MS.

The healthcare professionals attended the training left the workshop with a deeper understanding of the importance of providing not just medical care, but also psychological support, acknowledging the full scope of what people with MS have experienced.

As I left the workshop and made my way back through Cairo’s busy streets, I felt grounded and inspired. I was reminded of the importance of the work that MSIF and its members are doing to help build stronger and broader MS movement. The commitment to support the Sudanese MS Society in organising these workshops is not just about improving healthcare – it’s about showing the power of solidarity in times of crisis.’

Written by Abdelfatah Ibrahim, MS International Federation (MSIF)’s Head of Communications, Campaigns and Advocacy 

About this project

The conflict in Sudan has displaced both people with multiple sclerosis and healthcare professionals. Among the Sudanese diaspora in Egypt are allied health professionals, including neurologists, nurses, psychologists, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists, who currently lack the necessary training to address the needs of Sudanese refugees with MS.

Through this training initiative, the Sudanese MS Society aims to create a network of Sudanese health professionals in Egypt to support the Sudanese MS Association. This network will also foster collaboration between the Sudanese MS Association, MS Care Egypt, and the Egyptian MS healthcare community.

This project is supported by a grant awarded by MSIF, as part of the 2023 MENA Charter for Access to Treatment of MS. Following the Charter’s launch, small grants were made available to regional MS organisations. These organisations were asked to identify specific Charter statements their projects would address.’