|
Epilepsy, which is probably the oldest recorded medical
illness, has evoked varied reactions ranging from mystery to fear. It has
even been seen as messages from the supernatural. However, people with epilepsy
and their families have suffered ostracism by society and deprived of
treatment, leading to frequent injuries and sometimes, death. It is
estimated that there are 40 million people with epilepsy in developing
countries, many of them in the South-East Asia Region.
Advances in medical sciences have enhanced the
understanding of epilepsy. We now know why it occurs, in some cases what
causes it, how to treat it and how best to care for the patient.
Unfortunately, despite the availability of effective and inexpensive
medicines and treatment regimens, many patients in the Region are not
getting the full benefit of appropriate treatment.
Epilepsy affects about 1% of the population of the
South-East Asia Region of WHO. This means that there are approximately 15
million people with epilepsy in the Region. Despite the global advances in
modern medicine, epilepsy continues to be surrounded by myths and
misconceptions. It is not unusual
for patients with epilepsy to be taken to faith healers rather than medical
doctors. Only 10-20% of all patients with epilepsy receive
appropriate treatment. The
situation is particularly bad in rural and remote areas where almost no
services for epilepsy are available.
The World Health Organization, in partnership with the International
League Against Epilepsy, and the International Bureau for Epilepsy, has
launched a world-wide programme, “Global
campaign against epilepsy: out of the shadows”, to create
awareness, remove myths and misconceptions and make available appropriate
care and treatment to people with epilepsy world-wide. The WHO Regional
Office for South-East Asia is committed to
this partnership. Our objective is to support countries in the Region to
reach even remote and rural areas and marginalized populations and to help
people with epilepsy lead normal lives.
SEARO has launched an initiative
to deliver at least minimum services for neuron psychiatric disorders to
the community, using community-based health care providers. This initiative
aims to reach out even to rural and remote communities. Epilepsy is one of
the conditions included in this initiative.
The target of this project is to reach 8 million peoplewith generalized tonic-clonic seizures. It is
hoped that the treatment gap will be reduced by 50% by the year 2008.
As we take courage from the fact that 70 to 80% of
people with epilepsy can lead normal lives if properly treated, it is time
to introspect as to why 80 to 90% of people with epilepsy are not being
treated at all. We must find answers and take appropriate action now. It is
only then that people with epilepsy can emerge from the shadows.
 Development
of Modules for Identification and Management of Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures (Major Fits), Report of an Intercountry Workshop, Yangon, Myanmar, 23-25 September
2002 [PDF 56 KB]
Development of a Validated Clinical
Case Definition of Generalized Tonic–Clonic
Seizures for Use by Community-based Health Care Providers
Epilepsia, Volume 46, Issue 5: 743-750 (To read the full length article,
please contact your librarian)
This project aimed
to develop and test a clinical case definition for identification of
generalized tonic–clonic seizures (GTCSs) by
community-based health care providers.
|
The SEARO Epilepsy project is in collaboration with the 
