Purple Day is the international day for epilepsy and falls on 26 March each year. To raise and promote public awareness about epilepsy, a press conference was held yesterday at the Clinic for Neurology,University Clinical Center Tuzla.
The history of epilepsy is associated with the history of human existence, and the first reports on epilepsy can be tracked in ancient medical textbooks. Today we understand epilepsy as a group of neurological disorders characterized by occasional seizures that temporarily interrupt electric brain functions. It is a common disease and can develop at any age.
In speaking to the press on the occasion of the day Prof.Dr. Dževdet Smajlović, head of the Clinic for Neurology said that epilepsy is a common neurological disease that results from abnormal activity of brain cells. There are around 60 million people with epilepsy in the world, and around 80 people are diagnosed with epilepsy every day.
Epilepsy is a universal disease that affects both male and females of all races, ethnic background and ages. For epilepsy patient it does not mean only the occasional loss of control over the physical, behavioral or psychic functioning, but also taking antiepileptic drug treatment which is sometimes lifelong. Many antiepileptics have side effects that impact negatively on the quality of life in epilepsy patients. Most of the new optimizing antiepileptic drugs are on the essential drug list for the Tuzla Canton, said Prim. Dr. Larisa Kovačević, chief of the Department for General Neurology.
With the slogan “Out of the Shadows” the Clinic for Neurology, Clinical Center Tuzla together with the Tuzla Canton Health Ministry, the Tuzla Canton Institute for Public Health, Medical faculty, University of Tuzla and the Center for Early Development Health Center Tuzla have joined the global campaign against epilepsy.
At a press conference ,Dr. Lejla Zonić talked about the importance of the public awareness campaign and educational campaigns on epilepsy in primary and secondary schools in order to raise the knowledge on epilepsy and reduce epilepsy- associated stigma among students and teachers.
In the frame of “Out of the Shadow” campaign, a public debate “Living with epilepsy” was held on 25 March, 2019 at Medical faculty Tuzla begining at 5 p.m.. A ride tour through the city of Tuzla “We drive for epilepsy” is planned in cooperation with Bicycle club Tuzla for 30 March beginning at 11 a.m.
On Tuesday, March 26, 2019, our citizens will have an opportunity to attend educational initiative about epilepsy and to get educational material in shopping mall Omega.
Throughout the whole week, the tree on the Square of Freedom in Tuzla will shine in violet color.
