World brain day

World Brain Day (Epilepsy) – Wednesday, July 22, 2015

by Mohammad Wasay & Wolfgang Grisold

The first World Brain Day was started by World Federation of Neurology in 2014 with the slogan “Our brains-Our future”. This global campaign was designed to promote awareness about brain and neurological diseases and to promote brain health. A large number of national societies organized activities and media events. Hundreds of newspaper items and media posts were created and shared via electronic, print and social media.

For 2015, the WFN has identified “Epilepsy” as theme for brain day campaign. In January 2015, World Health Organization (WHO) approved a board resolution and a call for coordinated efforts to address health, social and public knowledge implications of epilepsy. This is a landmark event for creating improved awareness and care across the world especially resource limited countries.

Hence, World Brain Day activities will be organised in collaboration with the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and International Bureau of Epilepsy (IBE). WFN is working with WHO to organise a joint press conference on 22 July, 2015.

This World Brain Day campaign on epilepsy would like to emphasise on prevention. The most important causes of epilepsy include peri-natal brain injury, infections, traumatic brain injury, and stroke. All of these conditions are preventable.

The target of this campaign is the public. We need to create clear messages in local languages and promote them via electronic, social media, billboards, banner, events etc. The next important area of intervention is healthcare authorities and policy makers. Our campaign should result in policy and priority shift at national or local level. We have to plan targeted activities to facilitate this outcome. Another important area of intervention is awareness and training of general practitioners, nurses and paramedical staff. Involvement of media is a must. Celebrities, scientists and sports personalities with epilepsy could be a part of this advocacy campaign.

For full article: www.neuropenews.org