Programme for epilepsy awareness organised in DMCH

Ludhiana: In view of the International Purple Day (for awareness of epilepsy) on March 26, the DMCH Department of Neurology organised a programme in the campus on Friday. Cassidy Megan from Halifax (Canada), founder of the International Purple Day in 2008, has come to India for the awareness campaign in various cities of India.
Megan was nine years old in 2008 when she started a day for epilepsy awareness, motivated by her own struggle with the ailment. The first Purple Day event was held on March 26, 2008, and Cassidy is the first person to have taken the initiative worldwide.

The main purpose of the day is to get people talking about epilepsy and dispel myths about the ailment by increasing general public awareness and empowering individuals afflicted with epilepsy to live a normal life. This year, Cassidy has come to India to conduct awareness campaigns in Mumbai (March 26), Indore (March 27), Ahmedabad (March 28), Ludhiana (March 29), and Chennai (March 31).

Supporters of the Purple Day are encouraged to wear purple-coloured clothing on March 26. Lavender (whose colour is purple) has been proven to act as a central nervous system relaxant for epilepsy patients, and thus the name of the day.

The event in DMCH was formally inaugurated by chief medical officer (CMO) Dr Parvinder Pal Singh Sidhu (chief guest), who lauded the efforts of the college in taking the initiative to conduct the informative programme. He said three levels of sensitization programmes were also conducted for primary care physicians, auxiliary nurse midwifery (ANMs), and accredited social health activist (ASHA) workers by DMCH with a motive of providing home-based care for patients.

Dr Rajinder Kumar Bansal (professor of Department of Neurology) said epilepsy was the most common neurological disorder in the world. It is estimated that eight million people are suffering from epilepsy in India, and there are many challenges related to its medication and management.