Medical college dept hosts meet on epilepsy
In view of the ‘Scaling up the Competency of Primary Care Workers to Manage Epilepsy by Task Sharing (STOP-Epilepsy)’ project, supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT)-Wellcome Trust India Alliance, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital’s (DMC&H) Department of Neurology organised a meeting to advance the ongoing STOP-Epilepsy Project in its Dumra Auditorium.
Dr GS Wander, DMC&H Principal, highlighted the importance of addressing epilepsy as a public health priority, emphasising the role of primary health care workers in managing the disease in the early stages.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Gagandeep Singh, Professor and Head, Department of Neurology, and principal investigator of the project, highlighted that it was being implemented in three districts of India - Nawanshahr (Punjab), Hamirpur (Himachal Pradesh), and Bhimavaram, West Godavari (Andhra Pradesh) - with the support of collaborators and consultants from UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology in London, along with All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi; The George Institute for Global Health, New Delhi; University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad; and IIT-Ropar.
Dr Gagandeep explained that there was still a prevalent stigma about epilepsy, with many believing it was untreatable and that those affected could not lead happy lives. To address the misconception and improve the ability of primary healthcare workers to manage epilepsy, the project was initiated, he said.
Dr Gagandeep also said that epilepsy was a chronic neurological disorder that affected around 10 million people in the country, including 300,000 in Punjab. Despite its treatability with simple and affordable medications, there was a significant treatment gap, with 70 per of patients remaining untreated, he said. If left unmanaged, drug-resistant epilepsy could lead to a higher risk of premature mortality compared to the general population. However, with proper treatment, people with epilepsy could lead healthy and productive lives, he added.
