After over a decade of living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Gomolemo Marumo is turning her personal journey into a mission of hope, awareness, and support for others affected by the condition. On Saturday, Marumo will lead a 10-kilometre walk in Gaborone to mark World Multiple Sclerosis Day, stepping forward not just for herself, but for the growing number of people silently battling MS across Botswana.
The walk, which begins at Nanogang Junior Secondary School and ends in Maruapula, will feature health screenings, talks by medical professionals, and information booths aimed at increasing public knowledge of the disease. Marumo hopes the event will offer both visibility and community for those affected.
“It’s more than a walk. It’s a reminder that no one is alone,” she said in an interview, her voice resolute with purpose.
Marumo was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2013 after undergoing an MRI and a lumbar puncture, following a string of worrying symptoms. “My body was giving in. I experienced muscle weakness, blurry vision, and bladder issues. But I didn’t know what it was until the tests confirmed it,” she explained.
Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic and often unpredictable autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective covering of nerves in the brain and spinal cord. The symptoms can vary widely from person to person, ranging from fatigue and balance problems to severe neurological impairments.
“The symptoms are not the same for everyone. That is what makes it tricky to diagnose and even harder to explain,” Marumo added.
Despite the daily challenges of living with MS, Marumo has become a voice of strength and resilience in Botswana’s health advocacy circles. Her goal is to educate the public, reduce stigma, and ensure that those newly diagnosed do not feel isolated or misunderstood.
World Multiple Sclerosis Day, observed annually on May 30, serves as a global platform to share stories, raise awareness, and campaign for better support and understanding of MS. This year’s commemoration carries even greater weight as individuals like Marumo use their voices and experiences to ignite conversations and demand visibility.
Saturday’s walk is expected to draw participants from across Gaborone, including health professionals, families of those affected by MS, and members of the broader community. For Marumo, each step taken is a declaration of perseverance—and a powerful invitation for others to walk with her, both literally and in solidarity.
In bringing awareness to a condition that often goes unnoticed in Africa, Gomolemo Marumo is doing more than walking—she’s leading the way.
