80 Clinical R&D ‘THE ART OF MS – SYMPTOMS UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT’ EXHIBITION ‘The Art of MS – Symptoms Under the Spotlight’ is an art exhibition created by MS Ireland in partnership with Novartis Ireland and opened recently featuring 12 original works of art created by people living with MS in Ireland. The exhibition has been organised to raise awareness of MS and the wide-ranging symptoms of the disease to mark World MS Day 2022. The 12 works of art on display were shortlisted by a panel of judges and chosen for their ability to impactfully depict the many symptoms of MS, many of which are invisible and unknown to the general public such as fatigue, vision impairment, depression and difficulties with memory and thinking[i]. The exhibition will feature paintings, digital illustrations, freestanding sculptures and creative video content all of which aim to help the viewer better understand what it is like to live with MS day to day.
Pictured at the launch of The Art of MS – Symptoms Under the Spotlight are Ava Battles Chief Executive MS Ireland and Audrey Derveloy, General Manager, Novartis Ireland. Picture: Andres Poveda
Méabh Hennelly is a featured artist who lives with MS, aged 25. Her piece, entitled ‘Secret Central System’ is a 3D printed sculpture which is intact from the front and exposes the brain and spinal cord from the back, representing the hidden nature of MS. Ava Battles, Chief Executive of MS Ireland said “One of the big challenges for people living with MS is trying to articulate their symptoms to others when so much of their disease is invisible. Without understanding, empathy is limited as people do not realise how debilitating the disease can be on all aspects of the person’s life. The beauty of our exhibition opening today is that people have been able to show through art what they find hard to articulate in words. I would encourage everyone to visit The Art of MS – Symptoms Under the Spotlight exhibition and show your support for the 9,000 people in Ireland living with this disease.” Audrey Derveloy, General Manager and Country President, Novartis Ireland speaking about the opening of The Art of MS – Symptoms Under the Spotlight said, “At Novartis Ireland we are committed to supporting the community of people living with MS in Ireland as they navigate both the management of their disease as well as day to day life living with the broad ranging symptoms. We hope that The Art of MS – Symptoms Under the Spotlight will help the wider community to better understand and proactively
JULY 2022 • HPN | HOSPITALPROFESSIONALNEWS.IE
manage their disease and I would like to personally thank all the artists who have exhibited their work to mark World MS Day.” The Art of MS – Symptoms under the Spotlight is accessible to the public from Thursday 26 May to Wednesday 1 June 2022 from 9am-5pm and is located at the main foyer of Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, 152 - 160 Pearse St, Dublin 2. Find more information about MS and to view the profiles of the artists who will feature at the exhibition at www.MS-Society.ie HSE LAUNCHES COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK The HSE Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control team (AMRIC) has launched the Competency Framework for Infection Prevention and Control Practitioners in Ireland. This important framework was developed to support health care professionals pursuing specialist careers in infection prevention and control (IPC). It helps staff in identifying and gaining the specific competencies they will require as an IPC practitioner.
Framework is significant for the delivery of Ireland’s second One Health National Action on Antimicrobial Resistance 20212025, iNAP2, by helping to prevent and control the spread of infection and demonstrates Ireland’s commitment to best practice in this area. Importantly, it builds on the learning and experience from the COVID-19 pandemic response, a time when IPC was so important for safe environments for patients receiving care and the staff that delivered such care. I would like to congratulate the HSE National AMRIC Team for their leadership in developing and making available this valuable resource for healthcare professionals and service providers.” The framework aims to support managers, in growing and developing a skilled infection prevention and control workforce by: • providing standardised core competencies required for IPC practitioners in Ireland • assist in curriculum design of post graduate training courses for IPC in Ireland
Dr Eimear Brannigan, HSE Clinical Lead, Antimicrobial Resistance Infection Control (AMRIC) commented, “Effective infection prevention and control (IPC) is central to providing clean, safe and high quality health and social care for people who use those services. It also protects those who deliver the services and the wider community. All healthcare services must have basic IPC capacity within their core staff complement, and must also have access to higher-level expertise to support decision-making when necessary. This new document has been developed by the AMRIC nursing team to support health care professionals pursuing specialist careers in IPC. It will help in identifying and gaining the specific knowledge and skills they will require as IPC practitioners.”
• support healthcare organisations in growing and developing skilled and educated IPC workforce
Rachel Kenna, Chief Nursing Officer, Department of Health says, “I am delighted to support the launch of this new Competency Framework for Infection Prevention and Control Practitioners in Ireland. This is the first such framework on IPC for Ireland and it is an important step forward in advancing IPC practice. It will also assist with maintaining and improving expertise in IPC among health staff and promoting a high-quality and consistent approach to IPC practices. This
Tiziana Life Sciences (Nasdaq: TLSA) ("Tiziana" or the "Company"), a biotechnology company enabling breakthrough immunotherapies via novel routes of drug administration, has reported positive clinical results from the second patient with Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS) in the ongoing study as part of an expanded access program at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), Boston, MA. These results confirm the previously reported data, from the first SPMS patient after three
• support self-assessment of competence by the IPC practitioner • assist and complement staff appraisal and professional development plan processes. This document will continue to support the growth and development of a skilled infection prevention and control workforce in Ireland. TIZIANA LIFE SCIENCES ANNOUNCES POSITIVE CLINICAL RESULTS IN THE SECOND PATIENT WITH SECONDARY PROGRESSIVE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (SPMS)
