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HEALTH WO RL D ORGANIZATION
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC BUREAU RtGIONAL DU PACIFIQUE OCCIDENTAL
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ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTE
REGIONAL COMMITTEE
WPRlRC44/NG0I12
Forty-fourth session Manila 13-17 September 1993 Agenda item 25
17 September 1993 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
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STATEMENT BY DR ARTEMIO T. ORDINARIO, REPRESENT ATIVE OF THE INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE AGAINST EPILEPSY
On behalf of the International League against Epilepsy and the International Bureau for Epilepsy, we are most grateful for the privilege of attending this session. Epilepsy is all too common with a prevalence rate of five per one thousand population. In the developing world, a good number being here in the Western Pacific Region, this prevalence is about double. Several factors contribute to the increase in prevalence and incidence. Included are infectious and parasitic diseases, a younger population because of high birth rate, perinatal trauma and an overall sub-optimal medical care. Poverty and ignorance contribute immensely to the sad situation. Despite these factors, we believe much can be done to help patients with epilepsy. In this regard we support the Initiative of Support to People with Epilepsy by WHO. We are particularly pleased that the thrust of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific is towards control of poliomyelitis, leprosy, malnutrition, malaria, tuberculosis, AIDS and the common infectious diseases. Needless to say, these diseases have adverse effects on the nervous system many manifesting as epilepsy. We underscore malaria, tuberculosis, schistosomiasis and other infections which have strong correlation with epilepsy. In the young, control of malnutrition is particularly cogent as sub-optimal nutrition has long lasting untoward effects on the nervous system. Furthermore, there are other measures which positively help patients with epilepsy. In particular we refer to availability and better distribution of anti-epileptic drugs, a more affordable pricing of these medicines and incorporation of epilepsy control at the primary health care level. In consideration of the foregoing, we strongly propose that basic and cost-effective anti-epileptic drugs be included in the list of drugs which are highly prioritized by governments in the Region. Preventive measures directed against epilepsy (e.g. the control of infections, immunization. better obstetrical care and genetic counselling) will receive our support and encouragement. There are still lingering bias and prejudice against patients with epilepsy unnecessarily placing the epileptics at a disadvantage. We actively encourage and support any effort to remove this social stigma. As a concrete proposal, public education on the true state of epilepsy is and will be a major project of the League and the Bureau. The true state of epilepsy in many parts of the Region remains uncertain. This hampers progress in any public health programme. We therefore vigorously propose epidemiological studies concerning epilepsy in the Region.