WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTE
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC BUREAU REGIONAL DU PACIFIQUE OCCIDENTAL
REGIONAL COMMITTEE Sixty-third session Hanoi, Viet Nam 24–28 September 2012 Agenda item 16
WPR/RC63/NGO/10 27 September 2012 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
STATEMENT BY THE INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF EPILEPSY (IBE) By Dr Shung-Lon Lai, MD, Ph.D.
Epilepsy is one of the world’s most common chronic neurological disorders. Approximately 50 million people have been diagnosed worldwide, 19 million of them in the Western Pacific Region, with 950 000 new cases diagnosed each year. The key message to our region is: Millions of people in our Region suffer from the disease.
Furthermore, the stigma attached to people with epilepsy is a barrier to the exercise of their social integration. People with epilepsy in our Region experience high levels of unemployment, and are exposed to stigma and prejudice. Epilepsy also disrupts every aspect of life, and can impose physical, psychological and social burdens on individuals and families. The key message to our region is: Millions of people suffered from the stigma.
It is important to note that, while scientific advances have improved the understanding and management of epilepsy and up to 70% of people with epilepsy could be seizure-free with appropriate treatment, 70-90% of people with epilepsy in our Region do not receive such treatment. The key message to our region: Epilepsy is treatable, but treatment gap in our Region is so huge.
In other WHO regions, epilepsy has already been selected as a priority in other regions. In 2011, the Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) passed a resolution supporting the Strategy and Plan of Action on Epilepsy (CD51/10). This action formally establishes epilepsy as a health care priority in their region. A call is thus being made for WHO Western Pacific Region (WPRO) to agree to the preparation of a strategic plan in order to strengthen an integrated response to develop lifelong programmes for people with epilepsy.
WPR/RC63/NGO/10 page 2
Key areas to be addressed in such a strategy include: 1. 2. 3. prioritising epilepsy as a major disease that imposes a significant burden across the Western Pacific Region and to focus on reducing existing treatment gaps; ensuring the availability of the antiepileptic drugs considered essential for treating people with epilepsy, especially at the primary care level; assisting the Member States in the preparation and execution of national epilepsy programs within the framework of their health policies, with a view to correcting inequities and giving priority to the care of vulnerable and special needs groups, including indigenous populations; strengthening human resources as key to improving national epilepsy programs, through systematic training geared especially to the personnel in primary health care, neurology, and psychiatry service; taking initiatives to encourage the Member States to ensure equal quality of life, including in education, employment, transport and public healthcare, for people with epilepsy; strengthening legal frameworks as appropriate in order to protect the human rights of people with epilepsy and ensure effective enforcement of the laws; and promoting educational initiatives directed to the population to combat the sigma and discrimination suffered by people with epilepsy.
4.
5.
6. 7.
Finally: Regarding the partnership: IBE/ILAE had undertaken key programs of its global campaign program Out of the Shadows in China and Vietnam, in partnership with our regional WHO office, and there soon will be a new partner program in Vietnam.