Nicosia, Cyprus. Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades said on Friday that his ministry has an “essential role” in improving the lives of people with multiple sclerosis, speaking at an event held by the Pancyprian multiple sclerosis association ahead of World Multiple Sclerosis Day on Saturday.
Accessibility and infrastructure
Vafeades said transport, public infrastructure, roads, buildings, bus stops and public service areas directly affect quality of life. “Accessibility is not a form of welfare, it is a prerequisite for dignity, autonomy, and active participation in society,” he said.
He added that infrastructure projects “must take into account the real needs of the people, serving safety, functionality, and easier daily mobility”.
Cooperation with other bodies
The minister said no policy can be comprehensive without dialogue with those it concerns. He said cooperation with the health ministry, the social welfare deputy ministry and the Pancyprian multiple sclerosis association is essential so that measures respond to everyday needs.
He said Friday’s event offered “an opportunity for the provision of information, for the raising of awareness, and for meaningful dialogue”.
Recognition of daily challenges
“It is, above all, a day of recognition of the daily efforts exerted by people living with multiple sclerosis, their families, and those who are by their side,” he said.
Vafeades said multiple sclerosis “affects everyday life in ways which are not always visible”, adding that fatigue, difficulties in movement, changes in functionality and uncertainty over the course of the disease create real challenges.
He said state support for people with multiple sclerosis is based on the principle that every person must be able to participate equally in social, professional and daily life.
Multiple sclerosis in Cyprus
Around 3,000 people in Cyprus are living with multiple sclerosis, 69 per cent of them women.
Multiple sclerosis is a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. Common symptoms include fatigue, blurred vision, dizziness and muscle cramps, and there is no cure.
