Chapter Name: Epilepsy Association of Pakistan
Report By: Dr Zarine Mogal, Dr Hiba Mahmud

Publications:

• Participated in international study on “Epilepsy and Marriage in South Asia”. EAP in collaboration with National Epilepsy Centre (NEC) assisted with preparing the survey questionnaire of the study as well. The data is under analysis.
• A path breaking research article, “Epilepsy treatment gap and stigma reduction in Pakistan: A tested public awareness model”, the first of its kind in the world was published in Dec 2019 a prominent journal Epilepsy & Behavior.
• Another significant research article, “Did Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) have epilepsy? A neurological analysis” was published in February 2020 in online Epilepsy & Behavior. It is an important paper with reference to epilepsy and religion.

Summary of Activities:

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Two days ASEPA-ANZAN EEG Teaching Course was held on 15-16 November 2019 Avari Hotel, Lahore. Eight ASEPA tutors from Australia, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan and Spain tutored 44 participants that included postgraduate neurology trainees and freshly graduates in small group hands on training. Methodological EEG teaching is lacking in Pakistan and these workshops help provide a solid foundation on which one builds his/her skills through maximum experience in EEG labs.
• One day ASEPA Epilepsy Teaching Course was held on 17 November 2019 conducted by five international tutors from Australia, Malaysia, Taiwan.

EPILEPSY AWARENESS

• Telecast of Epilepsy Awareness Documentary on KTN News & KTN Entertainment, a popular Satellite Television Channels in Sindh. The documentary was telecast twice a day for one month.
• Telecast of Epilepsy Awareness Documentary on VASH News a popular Satellite Television Channels in Balochistan. The documentary was telecast twice a day for one month.
• Telecast of Epilepsy Awareness Documentary on Khyber News a popular Satellite Television Channels in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The documentary was telecast twice a day for one month.
• International Epilepsy Day was celebrated on 11th February 2019. A month-long Epilepsy Rickshaw Train activity was flagged off by Dr. Seemin Jamali, Executive Director of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre along with Prof. Hasan Aziz, Founding President of EAP. A large media coverage with a short press conference before the flag off was held at the Centre. This activity was to create epilepsy awareness to masses in almost entire Karachi. This activity was done from 11th February to 10th March 2019.
• Celebrated Health Week at Lucky-One Mall on 5-17 February 2019. Activities included awareness with fun and games. Distribution of epilepsy awareness material and gifts bearing our short awareness slogan was given to winners of various epilepsy awareness games and quiz contest to further disseminate the message.
• Epilepsy Awareness through state-owned national television network Pakistan Television (PTV) was done on two occasions. To celebrate of International Epilepsy Day on February 11, 2019 and then in the holy month of Ramzan on May 22, 2019, neurologist were invited to participate in their live morning show “Subh e Nau” – meaning a new morning. The channel has a strong national as well as international viewership. Doctors had an active conversation with the show’s host about epilepsy; the facts and myths surrounding the disorder.
• EAP in collaboration with NEC celebrated International Epilepsy Day on 10th February 2020. Public awareness posters with illustrations in English and Urdu were put up for all to read and understand. Eco-friendly bags were specially made for the patient to carry their medicines. Each bag had epilepsy awareness message printed on them. All children with epilepsy who came to centre were given goodie bags.
• Special Needs Pakistan held a live webcast on Epilepsy: Symptoms, stigmas struggles and success stories: In conversation with Dr. Zarine Mogal on May 19, 2020. Special Needs Pakistan run by Rabia Aziz Rizvi provides a platform and a resourceful network for all people with special needs and their care givers. The platform provides information about medical facilities and their motto is to promote compassion, tolerance, love and looking beyond social negativities. Dr. Zarine was joined by Prof Hasan Aziz and all aspects of epilepsy from clinical presentation to social injustice faced by the people with epilepsy was discussion during an hour-long session.

Challenges:

• The world is certainly going through a calamity not seen in recent medical history with Covid. It has drastically changed our lifestyle. With the city in lockdown and all most all of medical recourses shifted towards Covid crises management, EAP at National Epilepsy Centre gathered volunteers’ doctors and paramedics to run OPDs for patients with epilepsy who needed medical advice or supply of anti-epileptic drugs during the lockdown periods.
• To involve government for a nation-wide strategy, plan and execution of EAP projects is near impossible because epilepsy is not on government’s health priority list.
• Inadequate project funding due to donor drain

Future Plans:

• Collaborative international and organizational research activities to be continued.
• Plan and continue educational activities
• Plan and continue epilepsy awareness activities
• Seek funding for activities supporting EAP projects (Patient management, human capacity development and Research)

Officer Election Date: June 29th, 2020