Regional Executive Committee meets in Bangalore

Report by Anchor Hung, VP South East Asia and Member, Regional Executive Committee South East Asia who is pictured above with Dr PK Sethi, Chair of the Regional Executive Committee South East Asia.

It was a precious moment for our Regional Executive Committee to have its first meeting on the 4th October, 2006 at the Nimhans Convention Centre, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

We had the expertise of Dr PK Sethi (Chairman), Dr HV Srinivas (Vice Chairman) and Dr VS Saxena (Secretary). Dr MM Mehndiratta also attended the meeting to discuss preparations for the AOEA programme that would take place during the 6th Asian & Oceanian Epilepsy Congress in Kuala Lumpur the following month.

During our meeting, Dr Sethi shared with us the progress of the Region. Most important of all, our Regional Executive Committee Members discussed some initiatives to enhance participation of our regional members, subject to the endorsement of the IBE International Executive Committee.

The structure of the IBE with its seven new Regional Committees, which include South East Asia and Western Pacific, is a new start. We still have a long way to go. I firmly believe that with the great leadership of the Regional Executive Committee Members, who are dedicated, experienced and strongly committed to the benefits of persons with epilepsy, there will be a great development in the region. Simultaneously, I also trust that regional members will also make their invaluable contributions to people, both in their countries and in the region. Epilepsy is a global concern and we all have a part to play.

I was very honoured to be invited to attend the Joint Annual Conference of the Indian Epilepsy Association and the Indian Epilepsy Society by Dr HV Srinivas, Chairman of the Organising Committee, ECON 2006. It was also my pleasure to deliver a speech during the Symposium on ‘Social Aspects of Epilepsy’, titled ‘Self-management, Self-help and Social Awareness’.