Education Health

Epilepsy doctors should teach their patients how to fight the disease: Dr. Fowzia Siddiquie

KARACHI:, August 11 (SABAH): Epilepsy Foundation Pakistan President and noted neurophysician of the country Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui has urged the epilepsy doctors to empower and teach their patients how to fight the disease. She said that it is necessary that only a trained doctor should be selected for the treatment of epilepsy.

She said for the doctors of the third world countries like Pakistan, practical and low-cost guidelines for the treatment of epilepsy have been formed besides the national guidelines, and by following them they could properly treat their patients.

Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui said that during the treatment of epilepsy, a doctor should give control to their patients so that they fight the disease and overcome it. She said in Pakistan about one percent of population faces this disease.

She said there is a misconception that this is a lifelong disease. However, in fact it is a treatable disease. She said with a proper treatment the quality of life of patients could be improved. She said after proper treatment a patient could marry and continue their education.

In this regard, Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui who is also the president of Epilepsy Foundation Pakistan along with Ambassador for Epilepsy Advocacy Dr. Rashid Jumma holds an annual Epilepsy Mini Fellowships for training of doctors. This is a comprehensive course for helping doctors in Pakistan.

This year it was the 12th workshop held from August 9-11 at Hamad Medical Centre Doha, Qatar. The participants were given training about the basics of epilepsy management.

For Epilepsy Mini Fellowship 2024, the course directors were Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui and Dr. Rashid Jumma. Dr Gayane for Doha also attended it. From Pakistan Dr. Memona Siddiqui, Professor Dr. Wasiy, Dr. Nadir Ali Syed, Dr. Tipu Sultan, Dr. Naila Shehbaz, Dr. Arsilanb Ahmed and Dr. Dure Shahwar spoke on different topics like classification of epilepsy, its social and psychological aspects, blood tests, radiation, surgical solutions and others methods.

Epilepsy expert Dr. Maria Siddiqui and Dr. Khalid Zaman of Hamad Medical Centre Doha Qatar distributed the certificates amongst the participants at end of the workshop.