International Epilepsy Day is celebrated on the second Monday of February each year. This year 2024, it is celebrated on February 12. It serves as a global awareness-raising campaign to increase understanding about epilepsy, reduce stigma associated with the condition, and advocate for better access to treatment and care for people with epilepsy. It is an opportunity to raise awareness of epilepsy, what it is, how it can be treated, and advocate for better access to treatment and care for people with epilepsy.
This year, 2024, the International Epilepsy Day Theme is “Milestones on My Epilepsy Journey”. The theme emphasises highlighting personal achievements despite the challenges brought about by the condition. It aims to encourage individuals to break the silence and share their successes.
Commenced in the year 2015, this day was planned by IBE and ILAE to provide a platform through which people living with epilepsy can share their experiences with the world. This is also an opportunity for the society to call upon its members to ensure that they put in place laws that would protect persons who have epilepsy and also encourage them to live their lives maximally. The Epilepsy Foundation is a full member of IBE.
According to WHO, epilepsy is a chronic noncommunicable disease of the brain affecting close to 50 million people across the world. There are recurrent seizures, which are brief episodes of involuntary movement in part or entire body of an Epilepsy patient. Epilepsy is sometimes accompanied by loss of consciousness and control of bladder function. It is characterized by recurrent seizures, which can vary in severity and type. Despite being one of the most common neurological conditions worldwide, epilepsy remains poorly understood by many people, leading to misconceptions, discrimination, and social stigma.
The aim of International Epilepsy Day is to change how people think about epilepsy and encourage tolerance and recognition of people living with this sickness. This is a forum that can be used to educate the general public on epilepsy, its causes, symptoms, treatment options, and also on the importance of providing support and empathy for those with it.
International Epilepsy Day sees various activities being undertaken globally by epilepsy organizations, healthcare providers, advocates as well as individuals. Some of these may encompass educational seminars; public awareness schemes; fund raisers; or communitarian endeavors aimed at enlightening the world about epilepsy while also providing support for persons suffering from this condition.
International Epilepsy Day seeks to enhance the lives of individuals afflicted by epilepsy, empower them to live satisfactory lives and engage in profitable activities and champion for policies as well as initiatives that safeguard their rights and dignity. As International Epilepsy Day helps make people aware and understand more about it, they create a society which is more varied and sympathetic towards patients having epilepsy including their families.
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