The Saudi Chapter of Epilepsy was founded in 1996 and was accepted as an active member of the International League Against Epilepsy in 1997. The inaugural meeting was held in 1997 and it was attended by Dr. Edward Reynold, President of ILAE and Ms. Hannecke de Boer, President of the IBE. The Global Campaign Against Epilepsy was pre-launched during the pre-inaugural meeting with representatives from ILAE, IBE and WHO.
The 1st Annual meeting of the Saudi Chapter of Epilepsy was held at Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital in 1999. The second annual meeting was held at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, since then the Saudi Chapter of Epilepsy conducts every year the annual meeting of the Saudi Chapter of Epilepsy that attracts epileptologists, neurologists and neuroscientists from the Kingdom and from the region.
The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), a world wide professional organization was founded in 1909 and is growing rapidly with chapters in 60 countries.
The International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE), the equivalent lay organization was founded in 1962 and is also rapidly expanding with 50 international chapters.
The objectives of these organizations is to improve health care and public awareness of epilepsy.
