1st African Epilepsy Congress – 21st-23rd June 2012

The 1st African Epilepsy Congress took place in Nairobi, Kenya from 21st-23rd June 2012.

The International League Against Epilepsy and the International Bureau for Epilepsy were honoured to bring the first ILAE-IBE epilepsy congress to this region. With this accomplishment came the firm commitment to improve the quality of life of people with epilepsy through support of education, research, knowledge dissemination and patient care.

More than 40 local, regional and international speakers presented a range of topics over the three days that were highly relevant to the recent scientific, clinical and social developments in epilepsy. It was evident that our colleagues in the Scientific Advisory and Organising Committee along with members of the ILAE’s Commission on African Affairs and the IBE African Regional Committee had been working arduously to prepare a scientific programme with international appeal and regional relevance.

Each day at the Congress, there was a different theme.

Day one focussed on diagnosis, management and special epilepsy populations; day two covered the management gap and comorbidities as well as research in Africa; and day three concentrated on primary healthcare and on the way forward in the African Region.
The programme contained a balanced mix of plenary sessions, topical lectures, lively interactive sessions and thought-provoking workshops. A poster display complemented the scientific programme. Congress bursaries kindly provided by the ILAE was most helpful in assisting successful applicants with congress expenses.