WFN and WHO

IGAP: Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and other Neurological Disorders

At the 150th session of the World Health Organization Executive Board ⧉ on 27 January 2022,  the draft Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and other Neurological Disorders (IGAP) was presented to the WHO Member States at the World Health Assembly in May 2022 where it was approved.

The adoption of IGAP results from years of work and consultations with WFN, other members of the Global Neurological Alliance, the WHO Secretariat, and the Member States.

IGAP Papers

• Sebastian F. Winter, Donna Walsh, Wolfgang Grisold, Justin T. Jordan, Pratibha Singhi, J. Helen Cross, Alla Guekht, Tadeusz Hawrot, Frédéric Destrebecq, Valery L. Feigin, Symon M. Kariuki, Mayowa O. Owolabi, Gagandeep Singh, Jorg Dietrich, Audrey Craven, Action Amos, Man Mohan Mehndiratta, Mary Secco, Gus A. Baker, Francesca Sofia
  

  Uniting for global brain health: Where advocacy meets awareness. ⧉ Epilepsy & Behavior. 2023 Aug 1;145. DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2023.109295 ⧉

• Wolfgang Grisold, Morris Freedman, Riadh Gouider, Alla Guekht, Steven Lewis, Marco Medina, Chandrashekhar Meshram, Guy Rouleau, Richard Star
  The Intersectorial Global Action Plan (IGAP): A unique opportunity for neurology across the globe. ⧉ Journal of the Neurological Sciences. 2023 Apr 11:120645. DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2023.120645 ⧉

• Mohammad Wasay, Safa Younis, Augustina Charway-Felli, Hamidon Basri.
  World Health Organization (WHO)'s Intersectoral Global Action Plan (IGAP); implications for Asian and African countries.
  J Neurol Sci. 2023 Jan 15;444:120499. DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2022.120499. ⧉ Epub 2022 Nov 17.

• Gagandeep Singh, Mamta B. Singh, Ding Ding, Pallab Maulik, and Josemir W. Sander
  Implementing WHO's Intersectoral Global Action Plan for epilepsy and other neurological disorders in Southeast Asia: a proposal.
  The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia 2023;10: 100135, Open Access, DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lansea.2022.100135 ⧉

Optimizing brain health across the life course: WHO position paper

WHO Position paper on Brain Health

WHO's position paper on optimizing brain health across the life course is a technical complement to the Intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders 2022–2031.

The position paper provides a conceptual framework for what brain health is and how brain health can be optimized throughout life with actions across the following clusters of determinants: physical health, healthy environments, safety and security, learning and social connection, and access to quality services.

WFN World Brain Day 2023

Brain Health and Disability: Leave No One Behind

Brain health was the dominant theme for the WFN World Brain Day, held jointly this year with the World Federation for Neurorehabilitation (WFNR). The theme was chosen to coincide with WFN's work on the WHO campaign Optimising Brain Health ⧉ and Optimizing brain health across life ⧉.

Taking place on July 22, 2023, the campaign shared important information related to the global impact of brain health and disability, and raised global awareness in an effort to improve access and reduce gaps in equity.