To mark its 10th anniversary, the Caritas Malta Epilepsy Association organised the third National Conference on Epilepsy last Saturday.

It is estimated that one per cent of the global population suffers from epilepsy, while in Malta, there are over 2,900 people who have this condition. Epilepsy is a hidden disability and many people may not be aware that a person has epilepsy.

This will only be evident if they are explicitly informed by that person or his family or if that person has a seizure in their presence. This may have a negative effect on the person’s social life.

The Caritas Malta Epilepsy Association (CMEA) aims to help these people lead a better quality of life, increase awareness about epilepsy so that people may be better informed and the associated stigma eventually hopefully eradicated.

Addressing the conference, President Edward Fenech Adami and Caritas director Mgr Victor Grech both emphasised the importance of overcoming the stigma associated with this condition.

President of CMEA, Mario Dimech explained how 10 years ago, Maltese people with epilepsy felt the need to organise a support group in order for them to be able to share their problems with other people dealing with the same condition.

The association now helps people with epilepsy and their families, as well as educates the public about this condition. CMEA also functions as a pressure group to put forward the plight of epilepsy patients.

Prof Ley Sander, from the Institute of Neurology in London briefly described the different types of epilepsies and explained how antiepileptic drugs work. He said that it is unlikely that a drug that is efficacious for all patients will ever be found.

Dr Ray Galea from St Luke’s Hospital discussed how more than 90 per cent of women with epilepsy will have normal healthy infants and pre-conceptual counselling and coordination of care among all members of the health care team is key to treating women with epilepsy of childbearing age.