| Chair and Contact
Information
Dr. Juvenal Gutierrez Moctezuma
Insurgentes Sur. No. 421-A-301 - Col - Hipodromo Co
Delegacion Cuauhtemoc
C.P. 6170
Mexico
Phone: +52 55 64 4326
Fax: +52 55 84 0799
E-mail:
Chair
Dr. André Palmini
Corresponding office:
Serviço de Neurologia
Hospital São Lucas da PUCRS
Avenida Ipiranga 6690
90610-000 Porto Alegre-RS
Brazil
Phone/FAX: +55 51 339 49 36
email: apalmini @conex.com.br
1. Commission meeting in Prague - September 1999
The commission met in Prague, during the International
Epilepsy Congress, last September. We reviewed several of our goals
but focused on how could we approach, in a more objective way, institutions
which could effectively promote developments in epilepsy care in
Latin America. We dedicated a lot of time discussing how, for instance,
PAHO could influence offical health care programs put forth by Latin
American governments. We have to admit that we are far from having
a clear idea on what could be done to bridge the gap between what
the members feel as high priorities (like the availability of antiepileptic
medications through the public health system) and what could be
obtained through the available channels of communication with local
governments. We decided to create a subcommission to work on this
topic, and hope to get going during the next meeting (which will
also discuss these issues) next month in Buenos Aires.
2. Special Session on "Epilepsy in Latin america"
- IEC - Prague -
September 1999
During the Prague meeting we were successful in organizing
a special session entitled as above, included in the official Programme.
Several speakers, both members of the Commisssion and other invited
Latin American epileptologists, presented their views in terms of
education, ethics, research, p atient association, availability
of antiepileptic medications, and models of epilepsy care in different
health systems. The session had a restricted attendance, but suceeded
in the effort to join the epileptologists of the continent to discuss
some of the key problems faced by everyone.
3. "Optimal control of epilepsy in developing
countries: A Latin American contribution" Workshop, publication,
and symposium presentation.
With the sponsorship of Novartis, a forum to debate
the several aspects related to optimal control of epilepsy from
the perspective of developing countries will be created in Buenos
Aires, next May. It will, once more, congregate all members of the
ILAE Latin American Commission plus several epileptologists of the
continent. This group of 14 epileptologists will each present a
specific topic to be openly discussed. The presentations and the
discussions which will follow will be the object of a specific publication,
to be organized in the ensuing months. In addition, the highlights
of this 2-day workshop will be presented to the epileptologic community
in a special session during the I Latin American Epilepsy Congress,
in Santiago, next September. The topics which will be presented
and discussed include:
- "Optimal control of epilepsy: The desirable and the possible
from a syndromic perspective"
- "The rational use of antiepileptic drugs: What is it,
and how to propagate the concept"
- "Obstacles to the diagnosis of epilepsy and access to the
patients to health care in Latin America"
- "Optimal control and quality of life in epilepsy: How and
why to aim beyond seizure control?"
- "Optimal control in refractory epilepsies"
- "Optimal control in epilepsy in regard to cognitive functions"
- "Doctor-patient relationship in public health care in Latin
America: Implications for the care of epileptic patients"
- " Perceptions about epilepsy and people with epilepsy in
Latin America: The role of education and of lack of education"
- "Availability of antiepileptic medications in public health
systems: The ideal, the acceptable and the real - Perspectives
for a change in the current scenario"
- "Optimal control of epilepsy in women of childbearing age,
during gestation, and during puerperium"
- "The role and the future of associations of epileptic patients
in Latin America"
- " Ethical aspects in the evaluation of new antiepileptic
drugs and in the treatment of epilepsy in Latin America"
4. Latin American Epilepsy Congress - Santiago
- Chile – September 2000
The Commission is involved in the organization of this meeting.
Thelocal organizers are being extremely dedicated to the success
of this initiative, where will be launched the "Latin American
Declaration" for the care of epileptic patients and the development
of awareness and knowledge about epilepsy in the continent. The
meeting will hopefully be both a forum for debate about epilepsy
in the continent and a moment of scientific enrichment throgh several
activities being organized in conjunction with various ILAE Commissions.
We hope the meeting will reach its goals and set the standard for
the Latin American Congresses to come.
5. Neuroimaging-in-Epilepsy practical course during
IEC- 24, in Buenos Aires
The ILAE Commission for Latin American Affairs and the Subcomission
on Neuroimaging would like to take advantage of the 24th International
Epilepsy Congress (Buenos Aires, May 2001) to organize an interactive
course on Neuroimaging of the Epilepsies (Neuroimaging in Epilepsy:
A Practical Course). The idea is to have the members of the Neuroimaging
Subcommission and other international experts in the field to organize
a comprehensive, detailed course, enriched by interactive teaching
tools, aiming at neuroradiologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons
and neuropsychologists. The whole idea is to provide specific expertise
for people (particularly neuroradiologists) working in medical centers
that are being increasingly equpped with facilities to perform more
or less advanced structural and functional neuroimaging in epilepsy
patients. There are many neuroradiologists heading departments throughout
the developing world who are not familiar with the practical details
of the neuroimaging evaluation of the epilepsies. Bridging this
gap would enhance patient evaluation, promote surgical treatment
programs and research and development into epilepsy.
We are currently seeking sponsorship for this activity,
after having obtained the approval and the support of the local
organizers. Should this activity be confirmed, it is expected to
be a 2-day course on the Saturday and the Sunday just before the
opening of the Congress.
Annual Report 2000 Table of Contents
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