Chapter Name: Malaysian Society of Neurosciences
Report By: Prof Raymond Azman Ali

Publications:

NIL

Summary of Activities:

1. ASEPA ANZAN EEG Course
The ASEPA ANZAN EEG Course was held at the Grand Riverview Hotel on 4-5 July 2019. It was held as a pre-congress workshop of the 30th Malaysian Society of Neurosciences Annual Scientific Meeting in Kota Bharu. Local epileptologists and 2 invited tutors from Australia, Professor John Dunne and Professor Ernie Somerville shared their experience in EEG interpretation with the participants. Ninety participants, including practising neurologists, EEG technicians, neurology trainees from Malaysia and neighbouring countries took part. The participants were divided into small groups. The course consisted of several lectures, and each lecture was followed by EEG demonstration and tutoring in small groups. Each participant was given the opportunity to report and discuss the EEGs with the tutor. Groups were rotated through different tutors during the course to increase exposure to the various styles and experiences of the tutors.

2. Epilepsy School Awareness Programme
The Epilepsy Awareness Programme for school teachers and counselors in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah was held on 29 July, 2019 at Auditorium Sabah, Pejabat Setiausaha Persekutuan Sabah. It was attended by 89 school teachers and counselors from the districts of Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran and Penampang. The speakers were Dr Ahmad Rithauddin bin Mohamed, paediatric neurologist from Hospital Kuala Lumpur (‘Sawan, pengsan dan masalah berkaitan’; ‘Epilepsi – jenis dan punca sawan’ and ‘Epilepsi dan masalah pembelajaran’), Dr Heng Hock Sing, paediatric neurologist from Sabah Women and Children’s Hospital Kota Kinabalu (‘Epilepsi - rawatan dan langkah keselamatan’), and Dr Chia Yuen Kang, neurologist from Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Kota Kinabalu (‘Epilepsi di alam dewasa’). There was good participation from the audience, who asked a lot of questions directly and via WhatsApp. The total expenses came to RM 3038.68 (Catering RM 1980, stationeries and printing RM 244.60 and Dr Ahmad’s travel and accommodation RM 814.08). The feedback received was mostly positive. There were suggestions to include primary school teachers and counselors for future programmes.

3. Recruitment of New Council Members and New Executive Committee Members
A total of 5 new council members were recruited:
I. Dr Sangita Dharshini Terumalay
II. Dr Ng Chen Fei
III. Dr Sumitha Murugesu
IV. Dr Mohd Farooq Shaikh (also appointed to the executive committee)
V. Dr Khoo Ching Soong (also appointed to the executive committee)

4. Executive Committee Meetings
I. 5 July 2019 in Meeting Room, Grand Riverview Hotel, Kota Bharu.
II. 1 October 2019 in Conference Room, Department of Medicine, HUKM.
III. 21 Jan 2020 in Conference Room, Department of Medicine, HUKM.
IV. 25 April 2020 via Webex online.
V. 12 September 2020 via Zoom
VI. 19 December 2020 via Zoom

5. First Video EEG Course
The 1st Video EEG Course was held in the Neurology Lab, University Malaya Medical Centre on 11 and 12 January 2020. There were a total of 10 tutors and 4 assistant tutors, and 87 participants. There were 6 case studies, 7 lectures and 7 lecturettes. The total expenses of this course was RM16, 118.19 and the grand total income was RM 44,795.81.

6. School Awareness Webinar
The Epilepsy Council Malaysia, in collaboration with SEAMEO Regional Centre for Special Educational Needs (SEAMEO SEN), conducted a webinar entitled 'Webinar Kesedaran Epilepsi Dalam Kalangan Guru' on 4 June 2020. Lectures were given by Dr Ahmad Rithauddin bin Mohamed ('Sawan dan Pengsan di Kalangan murid'), Prof Fong Choong Yi ('Menangani dan merawat epilepsy') and Assoc Prof Wong Sau Wei ('Epilepsi dan pembelajaran'). The webinar was broadcast live via several platforms including YouTube and Facebook, with over 27,000 viewers recorded. Participants, who were mostly teachers, asked many questions, a few of which were answered during the webinar, while the rest of the answers were given in writing and uploaded onto the SEAMEO SEN Facebook page. Based on the generally very positive feedback, more programmes with SEAMEO SEN will be planned.

7. Epilepsy Made Easy Online Course
The Epilepsy Made Easy Online Course was held on 6 June 2020 from 8am to 5pm using the Zoom platform hosted by Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM). The course was the first online course conducted by the Epilepsy Council, Malaysian Society of Neurosciences together with the Neurology Unit of HCTM. The speakers covered the topics on Epilepsy Diagnosis, seizure semiology, Investigations of epilepsy, Women with Epilepsy, Choosing the treatment, Status Epilepticus, Epilepsy Surgery, Infantile Seizures and the staring child. The participants were medical students, medical officers, postgraduate students, neurology trainees, neurologists and medical lab technologists. A total of 169 participants took part. The total expenses of this course was RM3,840 and the grand total income was RM7,490.

8. Series of CMEs
Prof. Dato’ Dr. Raymond Azman Ali – Talks in 2019/2020.

  1. Delivered a lecture titled Non-Pharmacological Approach to Refractory Epilepsy at the First Holistic Medicine Symposium, Penang Hospital, 18 April 2019.
  2. Delivered a lecture titled Management of Epilepsy in the Modern Era at the Department of Medicine Lunch CME, Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor Bahru, 24 April 2019.
  3. Delivered a lecture titled Epilepsy Management: How do I Choose the First AED, Sanofi Neuro Summit, Aloft Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, 27 April 2019.
  4. Delivered a lecture titled Optimising Treatment Approach in Focal Seizures to the private neurologists and neurosurgeons in Malacca, Casa Del Rio Hotel, Melaka, 12 June 2019.
  5. Delivered a lecture titled Optimising Treatment Approach in Focal Epilepsy at the Department of Medicine CME, Melaka Hospital, 13 June 2019.
  6. Delivered a lecture titled Management of Epilepsy in the Modern Era at the Department of Neurology Lunch CME, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, 15 July 2019.
  7. Delivered a lecture titled Management of Epilepsy in the Modern Era at the Department of Medicine Lunch CME, Hospital Selayang, Selangor, 17 July 2019.
  8. Delivered a lecture titled Management of Epilepsy in the Modern Era at the Department of Medicine Lunch CME, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, Kelang Selangor, 15 August 2019.
  9. Delivered a lecture titled Modern Management of Epilepsy: A Practical Approach at the Lunch CME session, Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching, 30 October 2019.
  10. Delivered a lecture titled Modern Management of Epilepsy: A Practical Approach at the Lunch CME session, Miri Hospital, Sarawak, 31 October 2019.
  11. Delivered a lecture titled Pengsan atau Epilepsi at the Launch of the International Epilepsy Day, UKM Medical Centre, 4 February 2020
  12. Delivered a lecture titled Modern Management of Epilepsy: A Practical Approach at the Lunch CME session, Hospital Sultan Ahmad Shah, Temerloh, Pahang, 25 February 2020.
  13. Delivered a lecture titled Modern Management of Epilepsy: A Practical Approach at the Lunch CME session, Hospital Tuanku Ampuan Afzan, Kuantan, Pahang, 26 February 2020.
  14. Delivered 2 lectures titled Fits, Faints and Funny Turns and Modern Management of Epilepsy: A Practical Approach at the First North Borneo Neuropsychiatry Symposium, Borneo Royale Hotel, Tawau, Sabah, 5 March 2020.
  15. Delivered a lecture titled Is it Epilepsy? at the Epilepsy Made Easy Online Course, organized by The Epilepsy Council, Malaysian Society of Neurosciences and the Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, UKM, 6 June 2020.
  16. Delivered a lecture titled Modern Management of Epilepsy: A Practical Approach at the Neurology Summit 2.0 Epilepsy Chapter Live Webinar, Organised and Sponsored by Sanofi in collaboration with the Epilepsy Council, Malaysian Society of Neurosciences, 20 June 2020.
  17. Delivered a lecture titled Fits, Faints and Funny Turns at the online University Malaya Masterclass in Medicine 2020, 8 August 2020.
  18. Delivered a lecture titled Not All Seizures are Epileptic at the Annual East Coast Medical Update of the Hospital Tuanku Ampuan Afzan, Kuantan, Pahang, 19 September 2020.
  19. Delivered 2 lectures titled Seizures: is it Always Epilepsy? and Women with Epilepsy at the Epilepsy Teaching Course: Update in Management 2020, organised by Kelab Medik Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II, Perdana Hotel, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, 24 September 2020.
  20. Delivered 2 lectures titled Fits, Faints and Funny Turns and Seizure Classification at the Terengganu Epilepsy Update, organised by the Neurology Department, Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah, Muzium Negeri, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, 8 October 2020.

Datuk Dr. Raihanah Abd. Khalid

  1. Delivered a lecture titled Status Epilepticus at Post Grad Nurses Training Course organized by Tun Tan Cheng Lock Nursing School, 11th November.

Prof. Tan Hui Jan

  1. Delivered a lecture titled Seizures and Epilepsy at International Epilepsy Day, organized by Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, UKM, 4 February 2020.
  2. Delivered a lecture titled Status Epilepticus at the Epilepsy Made Easy Online Course, organized by The Epilepsy Council, Malaysian Society of Neurosciences and the Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, UKM, 6 June 2020.

Dr. Khoo Ching Soong

  1. Delivered a lecture titled Seizure Semiology & Its clinical Correlation at the Epilepsy Made Easy Online Course, organized by The Epilepsy Council, Malaysian Society of Neurosciences and the Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, UKM, 6 June 2020.

Dr. Raymond Tan

  1. Delivered a lecture titled Investigation of Epilepsy at the Epilepsy Made Easy Online Course, organized by The Epilepsy Council, Malaysian Society of Neurosciences and the Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, UKM, 6 June 2020.

Prof. Dr. Lim Kheng Sean

  1. Delivered a lecture titled Choosing the Treatment at the Epilepsy Made Easy Online Course, organized by The Epilepsy Council, Malaysian Society of Neurosciences and the Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, UKM, 6 June 2020.

Dr. Sherrini Bazir Ahmad
1. Delivered a lecture titled What is Seizures & Epilepsy, and Treatment for Epilepsy & First Aid at the Epilepsy Awareness Talk, organized by Persatuan Epilepsi Malaysia. 17 May 2020.
2. Delivered a lecture titled Women with Epilepsy at the Epilepsy Made Easy Online Course, organized by The Epilepsy Council, Malaysian Society of Neurosciences and the Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, UKM, 6 June 2020.

Dr. Ahmad Rithauddin Mohamed
1. Delivered a lecture titled Sawan, pengsan dan masalah berkaitan, Epilepsi – jenis dan punca sawan and ‘Epilepsi dan masalah pembelajaran at the School Epilepsy Awareness Programme organized by the Epilepsy Council, Malaysia Society of Neurosciences, 29 July 2020.
2. Delivered a lecture titled Infantile Spasm at the Epilepsy Made Easy Online Course, organized by The Epilepsy Council, Malaysian Society of Neurosciences and the Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, UKM, 6 June 2020.
3. Delivered a lecture titled Challenges in Treating Childhood Epilepsy at the Epilepsy Made Easy Online Course, organized by The Epilepsy Council, Malaysian Society of Neurosciences and the Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, UKM, 6 June 2020.
4. Delivered a lecture titled Evidence Based Approach to Neonatal Seizure, at the Neonatal Update in Hospital Tunku Azizah, Kuala Lumpur, 13 August 2020.
5. Delivered a lecture titled The Confused Child at the Paediatric Neuroscience Nursing Update, in Hospital Tunku Azizah, Kuala Lumpur, 13 August 2020.
6. Delivered a lecture titled Managing Expectation for VNS Therapy Malaysia VNS Update Webinar, 26 August 2020.
7. Delivered a lecture titled EEG basics at 1st virtual Paediatric EEG course, 5 September 2020.

Prof. Dr. Fong Choong Yi
1. Delivered a lecture titled The Staring Child at the Epilepsy Made Easy Online Course, organized by The Epilepsy Council, Malaysian Society of Neurosciences and the Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, UKM, 6 June 2020.

Dr. Suganthi Chinnasami
1. Delivered a lecture titled First Onset Unprovoked Seizure at ASEPA ANZAN EEG Course , organized by the The Epilepsy Council and Malaysian Society of Neurosciences, 4 to 7 July 2019.
2. Delivered a lecture titled Epilepsy Surgery at the Epilepsy Made Easy Online Course, organized by The Epilepsy Council, Malaysian Society of Neurosciences and the Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, UKM, 6 June 2020.

Challenges:

The availability of a stable internet connection is making education programmes during this pandemic an arduous task.

Future Plans:

At least two more Epilepsy Awareness programmes for school teachers and counsellors have been been planned for 2021
The First Malaysian Epilepsy Congress will be organised on 18-21 March 2021 in collaboration with Monash University, Melbourne, Australia as an online event.

Officer Election Date: 12 July 2020