The All-Russian Public Organization of Disabled People with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS RPO), which joined the EMSP in 2008, kindly invited Julie Deléglise, EMSP policy officer, to attend the interregional conferen ce “challenges, possibilities, tools and practices of interaction between patient public organization and authorities in 2010” in Samara (southeaster part of European Russia) held on 14th to 18th of June 2010. This conference aimed at training Russian federal experts on how to better communicate with authorities. The PwMS RPO makes a point of principle to empower its regional branches.

On the 17th of June, the Russian federal experts and Ms Deléglise met Mr Vadim Kulichenko, the Minister of Health and Social Development (MHSD) of Samara Region to discuss on the perspectives and possibilities to develop the rehabilitation system in the Samara region. Mr Kulinchenko expressed the willingness of the MHSD to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities in the Samara region.

This region has one of the best equipped integrated centre in Russia: the State Establishment of the Samara region – Rehabilitation Centre for young people “Bereza” in Samara city. It serves the residents of the Samara region and attracts people with disabilities from all over Russia. The team of professionals, including physical, occupational and speech therapists, offers a wide range of services such as individual and group therapy, rehabilitation and treatment. In the facilities, 50 persons with disabilities can be accommodated at one time.

After meeting people with disabilities and visiting the centre, Ms Deléglise gave a speech on the EMSP’s projects and was questioned on the situation of people with MS and more generally with disabilities in Europe. It was a great opportunity for the EMSP to learn more on the situation of people with MS, the challenges they are currently facing in Russia and to promote the European Code of Good Practice in MS and other EMSP tools in Russia.