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International Epilepsy Day 2021 will take place on Monday, February 8. This is a powerful opportunity to highlight the problems faced by people affected by epilepsy, their families and carers, in every region of the world. A highlight of International Epilepsy Day 2020 was seeing a number of landmarks and buildings around the world turn purple to mark the day! The Lega Italiana Contro de l’Epilessia (LICE) coordinated events in Italy that included having the Colosseum in Rome and a fountain in Trieste light up in purple to raise awareness. Tower 42, the fifth tallest skyscraper in London, projected the International Epilepsy Day logo from the top of the building as well as raising awareness among everyone inside the building through electronic posters and signage in lifts. Colosseum, Rome, International Epilepsy Day 2020 Tower 42, London, displaying the International Epilepsy Day logo in 2020 We hope to see more landmarks lit up to mark International Epilepsy Day in 2021! We're asking you to encourage landmarks in your town or country to light up purple - let's shine a light on epilepsy! Please let us know if a landmark in your area will be participating, and contact us [...]

Making Epilepsy a Health Priority in Africa - WHA Resolutions 68:20 Youths with Epilepsy across Africa Speak Out! Join us for our monthly Webinar series! Date: 20th October, 2020 Time: 2:00pm Nairobi time - 1:00pm Pretoria time Moderator: Action Amos, Vice President Africa, International Bureau for Epilepsy To register and receive a webinar link please email [email protected]   Panel Discussion (30 mins): Why the Global Epilepsy Plan matters for Youths with Epilepsy in Africa? Moderator: Comfort Mussa, Cameroon, IBE Epilepsy Journalise Award Winner 2014 Panelists: • Gresham Africa, WHA Program Coordinator, Epilepsy South Africa • Shakira Nasuuna, Board Member, Epilepsy Support Association, Uganda (ESAU) • Sharon Mbugua, Kenya Association for the Welfare of People with Epilepsy (KAWE) Petition (20 mins): Youths with Epilepsy Petition to 24 Ministers of Health and Parliamentary Health Committees in Africa to support the World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolution 68:20 Speakers: • Chantelle Kanyabutembo, Rwanda - Swahili/French • Bessong Takang Eyong Obasi Praise, Cameronn - English • Felix Joao, Mozambique - Portugese

It is with great sadness that IBE learned of the death of its esteemed Treasurer, Anthony Mulenga Zimba. Anthony had a long history of service to IBE, having served on the African Regional Committee from 2005 to 2009 and on its International Executive Committee for the last 11 years, firstly as Vice President for the African Region from 2009 to 2017 and then as Treasurer from 2017 until his passing. During this time, he worked tirelessly on behalf of people with epilepsy and those who care for them. His particular focus was on his beloved Africa and, as a result of his efforts, many IBE chapters in the region were supported through the IBE Promising Strategies Program in a range of projects aimed at improving their quality of life through training, advocacy and employment opportunities. He was also a member of the organising committee of the African Regional Epilepsy Congresses that took place in Nairobi, Cape Town, Dakar and Entebbe. Anthony was the founder of the Epilepsy Association of Zambia in 2001, which became a chapter of IBE soon thereafter. To improve his knowledge and skills in the epilepsy and allied fields, he undertook a number of professional courses including the [...]

Celebrando 20 años... Día Latinoamericano de la Epilepsia - 9 de Septiembre 2020 Latin American Epilepsy Day is held each year on September 9th. This year is the 20th anniversary of the occasion. Join us in marking the day!

Election of the President of the International Executive Committee for the term 2021-2025 The ballot for this election will take place by post/email between 16th October and 30th November 2020. In advance of balloting, IBE chapters with voting rights are hereby invited to nominate a candidate to serve in the position of IBE President. If you wish to nominate a candidate to stand for election to this position, please complete the nomination form. All nominations must be received at the IBE Office no later than midnight (CET) on Sunday 4th October 2020. Nominations should be sent to the following address: Email: [email protected] or Mail: International Bureau for Epilepsy, Office 208, Nesta Business Centre, 4-5 Burton Hall Road, Sandyford, Dublin D18 A094, Ireland Guidance notes and procedural documents on the nomination and election of candidates are available below for your further information. You will also find below the role description for the position of President. Please note that the election of the Secretary General and Treasurer for the term 2021-2025 will begin in early December when nomination papers will be circulated. The term of the regional Vice Presidents, which began in 2019, will not finish until 2023. We would urge all Chapters [...]

IBE Topic Focused Global Teams – an Introduction IBE’s Strategic Plan recognises the importance of engaging people with epilepsy and their care providers in all our decision making. Involving these stakeholders in all our activities is vital if they are to become the motivators of tomorrow. The objective is to see an expanded IBE board emerge over the next decade whose membership consists of people with a wide range of knowledge, experience, expertise and skills. As a first step, a new series of working ‘Teams’ is being created, each one focusing on a specific issue related to epilepsy and we would like you to consider membership. - A Global Academy Team will work on an important new initiative to train people with epilepsy to become international advocates and spokespersons. They will need to develop the necessary knowledge to be confident in interacting with public institutions, the scientific community and industry. Members of the Team will provide: input of people affected by epilepsy on module content; support with translation as necessary; promotion of the academy at local, national and international levels. - A Global Action Team will work on encouraging the implementation of the World Health Assembly Resolution on Epilepsy at national [...]

It is with great sadness that IBE announces the death of its esteemed Treasurer, Anthony Mulenga Zimba. A victim of Covid-19, Anthony passed away in hospital in Lusaka, Zambia, on the morning of Sunday 9th August. Anthony had a long history of service to IBE, having served on the African Regional Committee from 2005 to 2009 and on its International Executive Committee for the last 11 years, firstly as Vice President for the African Region from 2009 to 2017 and as Treasurer from 2017 until his passing. During this time, he worked tirelessly on behalf of people with epilepsy and those who care for them. His particular focus was on his beloved Africa and, as a result of his efforts, many IBE chapters in the region were supported through the IBE Promising Strategies Program in a range of projects aimed at improving their quality of life through training, advocacy and employment opportunities. He was also a member of the organising committee of the African Regional Epilepsy Congresses that took place in Nairobi, Cape Town, Dakar and Entebbe. Anthony was the founder of the Epilepsy Association of Zambia in 2001, which became a chapter of IBE soon thereafter. To improve his knowledge [...]