Introduction:
Every year on the second Monday of February, people join together to celebrate International Epilepsy Day; to raise awareness on epilepsy, to highlight the problems faced by people with epilepsy, and to support those patients and their families and strive to reduce its social impact.
The Global Campaign against Epilepsy: "Out of the Shadows" was launched in 1997 as a joint project of the World Health Organization (WHO), International League against Epilepsy (ILAE) and International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE), with the aim raising general awareness and understanding of epilepsy, enhancing efforts to improve care services and reducing its impact.
Epilepsy is a chronic disorder of the brain that affects people of all ages. Approximately 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy; thus making it one of the most common neurological diseases globally. People with epilepsy respond to treatment approximately 70% of the time. It is reported that 0.654% of Saudis have this disorder.
Objectives:
- Raise awareness of epilepsy.
- Promote research, learning, and training.
- Support patients and their families.
- Improve the medical services by means of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Official Date:
Globally: February 10th, 2020.
Locally: Jumada al-Akhirah 16th, 1441H
Theme:
References:
World Health Organization (
WHO)