Epilepsy is the most prevalent non-communicable serious neurological condition worldwide. Unfortunately, the majority of people with epilepsy in low-income countries do not receive appropriate treatment. Stigmatisation is the rule. In this setting, the World Health Organisation, the International League against Epilepsy and the International Bureau for Epilepsy launched the Global Campaign against Epilepsy in 1997. This entered its second phase in 2001 and as part of it has set up demonstration projects in the People's Republic of China, Zimbabwe, Senegal and, more recently, in Brazil. The objective of the demonstration projects is to show, through methodological evaluation, that it is possible to establish a model of treatment for people with epilepsy in primary health care settings. The Brazilian demonstration project has targeted regions in Campinas and São Jose do Rio Preto, both in Sao Paulo State. A task force has been established to assess strategies to expand this project nationwide.
epilepsy; stigma; prevention; treatment; antiepileptic drug
