Context:
Every year March 26 is observed as World Purple Day, also known as Epilepsy Awareness Day.
More on news
• The official theme for Purple Day of Epilepsy 2024 is “Let’s Talk About Epilepsy”.
- It aims to engage in open and honest conversations about epilepsy.
About Purple Day
- Purple Day is an international grassroots effort dedicated to increasing awareness about epilepsy worldwide.
- Purple is the chosen colour for epilepsy awareness, symbolising hope, courage, and solidarity with those impacted by the disorder.
Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia
- It began in 1980 with a small group of people who met regularly to provide education and support for those living with epilepsy and their families.
- In 2019, its name changed to its legal name to Epilepsy Association of the Maritimes to better reflect the communities and provinces we serve.
- The first Purple Day event was held on March 26, 2008, and is now known as the Purple Day for Epilepsy campaign. The Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia (Canadian Province) joined Cassidy Megan.
- Canada is the only country in the world that officially recognizes March 26th as Purple Day through the Purple Day Act implemented on June 28, 2012.
Epilepsy
- It is a chronic noncommunicable disease of the brain that affects people of all ages. It is a condition where the nerve cell activity in the brain is disrupted, which further causes seizures.
• It is more common in young children and older adults
- Epilepsy is the third most common neurological disorder affecting older adults after stroke and dementia.
• Nearly 80% of people with epilepsy live in low- and middle-income countries.
- This is likely due to the increased risk of endemic conditions such as malaria or neurocysticercosis.
- The higher incidence of road traffic injuries.
- Birth-related injuries.
- Variations in medical infrastructure.
- The risk of premature death in people with epilepsy is up to three times higher than in the general population.
• The causes of epilepsy are divided into the following categories: structural, genetic, infectious, metabolic, immune and unknown. Examples include:
- Brain damage from prenatal or perinatal causes (e.g. a loss of oxygen or trauma during birth, low birth weight)
- congenital abnormalities or genetic conditions with associated brain malformations
- a severe head injury
- a stroke that restricts the amount of oxygen to the brain
- an infection of the brain such as meningitis, encephalitis or neurocysticercosis
- a brain tumour
Historical Background
- A 9 year old Canadian girl Cassidy Megan created the idea of Purple Day in 2008, motivated by her own struggles with epilepsy.
- The Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia came on board in 2008 to help develop Cassidy’s idea which is now known as Purple Day.
• In 2009, the New York-based Anita Kaufmann Foundation and Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia joined to launch Purple Day internationally.
- The Guinness world record of the largest epilepsy training session was achieved by Swasthya Kalyan Homoeopathic Medical College & Research Centre and Rajendra Kumar Sureka (both India), in Jaipur, India, on 23 March 2017 under Anita Kaufmann Foundation.
The day could serve as a platform to highlight the need for better support systems, research funding, and access to treatment for people with epilepsy.