President of the Epilepsy Foundation Pakistan, noted neurologist and epileptologistDrFowziaSiddiqui has said that there is a need of proper legislation to secure the rights for the people with epilepsy. On the occasion of the 2nd Monday of February, the international epilepsy day, she said this day provides a platform for doctors treating epilepsy create awareness about the misconceptions of the disease and for people with epilepsy to share their experiences and stories with a global audience. This year’s theme is “end the stigma”.
The Epilepsy Foundation of Pakistan on this day together with IBE calls for all people to advocate for appropriate legislation that will guarantee human rights of people with epilepsy and encourages people with epilepsy to live to their fullest potential. She said that epilepsy is a treatable medical condition not a spiritual punishment of demonic possession.DrFowziaSiddiqui said despite being one of the world’s oldest known medical conditions, public fear and misunderstanding about epilepsy persist, making many people no wanting to talk about it. That reluctance leads to pushing people with epilepsy into shadows, and social isolation.The ignorance about this mystic condition and lack of understanding about individual risk, leads to discrimination in workplaces and communities. For people living with epilepsy, the misconceptions and discrimination can be more difficult to overcome than the seizures themselves.
However, DrFowziaSiddiqui President of Epilepsy Foundation Pakistan at an art competition organized by NARF said the purpose of these activities is to raise awareness and educate the general public on the true facts about epilepsy and remove the stigma and fear of demonic possession.
She emphasized on the urgent need for improved treatment, better care, and greater investment in research.She said Anti-Seizure medicines should be given lifesaving status as without them these peoples brains will wither away and they will die.
In a facebook live session from Aga Khan University, she elaborated on some facts about epilepsy like 65 million people around the world have epilepsy. She said some 2.2 people in Pakistan live with epilepsy. 4 to 10 out of 1,000 people on earth live with active seizures at any one time.
DrFowzia said one-third of people with epilepsy live with uncontrolled seizures because no available treatment works for them.She said for 6 out of 10 people with epilepsy the cause is unknown. Each year, more than 1 in 1,000 people with epilepsy die from sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, known as SUDEP.
