e-4003 (Holidays and observances)

Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled

• Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) is a rare and relatively unknown autoimmune disease that currently has no cure;
• NMOSD attacks the central nervous system and can cause lifetime disability, including blindness and/or paralysis, and/or death;
• The cause of NMOSD is still a mystery with only a few approved treatments for the majority of patients with NMOSD; but no treatments for the remainder of patients;
• When mistaken for other diseases, treatments can exacerbate NMOSD symptoms;
• It is common for NMOSD patients to be misdiagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) as symptoms present similarly;
• It is estimated that between 1,000 and 3,000 Canadians are living with NMOSD, the disease being most commonly diagnosed among non-Caucasian women in their 20s to 40s;
• Better awareness of NMOSD by Health Canada would aid and educate patients, clinicians, and medical professionals so as to decrease misdiagnoses, wrong and harmful treatment plans, and provide national support for those living with NMOSD; and
• By supporting an awareness initiative, the government of Canada would be recognizing the NMOSD community, and the need to provide readily available information on patient diagnosis, care, and treatment.