In India, November 17 is observed every year as National Epilepsy Day by the Epilepsy Foundation, to create awareness about epilepsy. Epilepsy is a chronic disorder of the brain characterized by recurrent ‘seizures’ or ‘fits’. The month of November is observed as ‘National Epilepsy Awareness Month’.
What is Epilepsy?
- Epilepsy is a varied set of persistent neurological disarray and causes sudden seizures and fits.
- The seizures of epilepsy result due to the unusual and extreme activities in the brain and the seizures also result from hypersynchronous neuronal brain activity.
- According to the World Health Organisation(WHO), more than 50 million people across the globe have epilepsy, which makes it one of the most common neurological diseases.
- Almost 80% of people suffering from Epilepsy reside in low and middle-income countries. It is estimated that with proper diagnosis and treatment more than 70% of the people with Epilepsy can live without a seizure.
History Epilepsy Foundation of India:
The National Epilepsy Day is a national level campaign initiated by the Epilepsy Foundation of India to reduce the prevalence of Epilepsy in India. The Epilepsy Foundation of India in Mumbai, Maharashtra was established by Dr Nirmal Surya in 2009. Epilepsy Foundation of India is a non-profitable charitable organisation to help people with seizures to have a fulfilling life and to change their view about epilepsy in society.
