Lobbying by NSW Member for Murray Helen Dalton to address a high motor neurone disease rate in her electorate has finally netted results.
After a tireless campaign lasting many years, the NSW Government has announced $2 million in funding.
The new money will fund research into identifying causes of MND and finding a cure for the debilitating disease.
Ms Dalton said there is a belief that the prevalence of the disease in her electorate may be tied to the health of the river system.
“The people of Murray continue to live under constant threat of MND, most likely caused by blue green algae in our lakes and rivers,” she said.
“For too long, governments have ignored this shocking health problem, so I am glad the Minns Government has chosen to listen to the people whose lives are been affected by the threat of MND.
“The people in my electorate have been deeply concerned about this crisis for more than a decade.
“With this continued funding for research hopefully we are another step closer to treatment and a cure.”
Motor neurone disease is a rare, progressive neurological disorder that causes rapid degeneration of muscle activity and can impair walking, talking, breathing and general functioning. There is no cure for the disease.
MND affects approximately eight in every 100,000 Australians, and 90 per cent of cases occur sporadically, without any apparent reason or family link.
The NSW Government said the MND Grants will fund research to help improve the wellbeing and health outcomes for people living with the disease, and drive advancements in diagnostic tools to improve rates of early detection and referral
Almost $1 million will be allocated to Professor Dominic Rowe from Macquarie University to fund research into why MND breakouts occur in specific geographic areas.
Almost $500,000 will go to Dr Rachel Tan from the University of Sydney to fund research into better MND diagnosis.
And $500,000 will go to Professor Steve Vucic from the Sydney Local Health District to develop a new diagnostic approach to Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is a form of MND that affects the nervous system.
Ms Dalton praised the work of MND researchers like Prof Rowe.
“Professor Rowe is a world leader when it comes to MND. He understands the need to study MND clusters like the ones we experience in Murray.
“We must listen to people like him and governments need to ensure people like Professor Rowe have the funding they need to conduct their life-saving work.”