💜 International Epilepsy Day! 💜

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Epilepsy is a chronic noncommunicable disease of the brain. It is one of the most common neurological diseases, effecting around 50 million people globally!

It is characterized by recurrent seizures, which can vary from a brief lapse of attention or muscle jerks to severe and prolonged convulsions which could be accompanied by a loss of consciousness. Frequency is also varied, from less than one per year to several per day.

People with Epilepsy tend to have more physical conditions (such as bruising and fractures from seizures), as well as more psychological conditions (such as anxiety and depression).

It’s estimated a staggering 70% of people could live seizure-free if properly diagnosed and treated!

Which is why the 10-year Intersectoral Global Action Plan (IGAP) is so important. Implemented by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to strengthen the public health approach to epilepsy, it’s 2 key goals to reach globally by 2031 are:

• 50% increased coverage for epilepsy.
• 80% of countries will have developed or updated their legislation to promote and protect the human rights of people with epilepsy.

There are still many parts of the world where people with epilepsy and their families suffer from stigma and discrimination. Working towards the goals above will help to ensure people with epilepsy have better access to care, and benefit from increased social inclusion.

If you’d like to learn more about people’s personal experiences, visit #MyEpilepsyJourney 💜