Every year on November 17th, India hosts its annual National Epilepsy Day. This day is devoted to raising awareness about epilepsy, a brain disorder characterized by seizures resulting from abnormal brain activity or temporary changes in the brain’s electrical functioning. It also aims to challenge the misconceptions surrounding this disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 50 million people worldwide are living with epilepsy, and India carries nearly 10-20% of the global burden.
Understanding Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a brain condition that disrupts the balance of orderly electrical impulses along nerve cell networks. The disruption can profoundly affect consciousness, movements, or sensations, leading to epileptic seizures. These seizures are further classified into focal and generalized seizures, each with distinct characteristics and symptoms.
Focal and Generalized Seizures: What’s the Difference?
The classification of epileptic seizures is primarily based on their origin within the brain. Focal seizures arise from a specific area of the brain and may lead to brief emotional alterations, involuntary movements, and symptoms such as dizziness. On the other hand, generalized seizures are marked by diverse symptoms including staring, muscle jerking, loss of control, twitches, and sudden loss of consciousness.
In addition to the National Epilepsy Day, every second Monday of February is observed as International Epilepsy Day, further emphasizing the importance of awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of this brain disorder globally.
About National Press Day
Another significant day celebrated in November in India is National Press Day, observed annually on the 16th. This day commemorates the establishment of the Press Council of India, an entity which serves as a guardian of journalistic ethics and freedom.
The Role and Authority of the Press Council of India
Unlike Press or Media Councils in many other countries, the authority of the Press Council of India extends even over state instruments, safeguarding the independence of the press in India. This council was initiated in 1966 following recommendations by the first Press Commission in 1956. Its purpose is to maintain professional standards and ethics in journalism through a statutory body comprised of industry stakeholders.
National Press Day serves as a reminder of the pivotal role of the Press Council in preserving the integrity and autonomy of journalism in India, ensuring that the voices of journalists remain uncensored and the truth is reported for the benefit of the society.
