MDF Magazine Issue 72 December 2023

KZN branch reaches out to the community
By Wilma Botha
The KwaZulu-Natal Branch of the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation
of SA is based at the Somtseu Office Block, adjacent to
the historical Durban Hindu Temple in Somtseu Road, Durban.
Its role is to support people who are affected by muscular dystrophy
and their families by offering comprehensive medical
information, regular news updates and referrals to neurologists
and professional counsellors. It also facilitates contact
with specialised health services and assists with specialised
disability equipment. Most importantly, it raises awareness of
the services rendered by the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation
of South Africa and of muscular dystrophy as a whole, to dispel
the lack of knowledge, mythologies and stigma.
The KZN Branch thus supports the original aim of the Muscular
Dystrophy Foundation of South Africa (MDFSA), held since
it was founded in 1974, namely to reach out to parents and
families of affected individuals and to support research into
the disease with the ultimate goal of finding a cure, while continually
increasing the scope of its activities.
Muscular dystrophies are a group of about 70 genetic conditions
that are characterised by progressive weakness and
wasting of muscles. In South Africa about 1 in 1 200 people
are affected. Sadly there is still no definite cure, although
some benefit may be gained from physiotherapy, a balanced
diet, exercise programmes, orthopaedic devices, medication
and surgery. Many research projects in South Africa and
worldwide are seeking a cure for this disease.
Awareness is extremely important in KZN as many parents do
not act quickly enough to find out why a child is not reaching
normal developmental milestones. As a result of delays, elements
of the condition that could be avoided by timely action
are not preventable, and this worsens the affected child’s disability.
In some extreme cases, children are kept at home and
not taken to school so that they miss out on great opportunities
for learning, growth and development. The KZN Branch
requires more community volunteers to assist in awareness
drives and to spread the information.
Many of our affected members attend boarding schools so
that their parents can go to work during the week to try and
make a living for their families. Even so, these families still
struggle because the fees at these schools are higher.
The MDF KZN Branch is grateful to other support organisations
and networking partners. It appeals to anyone who is
related to or knows of someone suffering from any muscular
dystrophy (Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Becker muscular
dystrophy, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, facioscapulohumeral
muscular dystrophy, congenital muscular dystrophy,
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, myasthenia gravis, and spinal
muscular atrophy) to phone their offices urgently on
031 332 0211 or to email projectskzn@mdsa.org.za.
From all of us at MDFSA
Wishing you all the joy and happiness during
the holidays and the whole year through.