Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV

Epileptics face ostracization in Turkey, NGO says

by Anadolu Agency

ISTANBUL Jun 18, 2015 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Anadolu Agency Jun 18, 2015 12:00 am
A Turkish epilepsy organization has warned the country's estimated 700,000 sufferers of epilepsy - a chronic neurological disorder that can result in seizures - face possible ostracization, depression and even suicide if their condition goes untreated. Now, the Turkish chapter of the International League Against Epilepsy - a professional organization representing those researching the neurological condition - and French pharmaceutical company Sanofi have introduced a photography competition to raise awareness. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, making it one of the most common neurological diseases. Around 700,000 of those patients are in Turkey.

The photo competition is open to everyone above the age of six. Speaking to the press in Istanbul yesterday, Candan Gürses of Istanbul University said around 2.4 million people worldwide are diagnosed with epilepsy every year. Noting that 30 to 50 people out of 100 were diagnosed with epilepsy in the developed world every year, Gürses said this number has also increased in developing countries. He added that "around 30,000 people are diagnosed with epilepsy in Turkey every year."

Approximately 80 percent of people with epilepsy live in low- and middle-income countries such as Turkey, according to the WHO, which also said about three-quarters of people living in those states do not receive enough treatment.

Saying that people with epilepsy can live a "normal life" if they can get treatment, Gürses warned: "If the illness is not treated, it might cause a person to feel ostracized, or can lead to depression and suicide."

According to the WHO, people with epilepsy as well as their families suffer from stigma and discrimination in many parts of the world. According to Gürses, the unemployment rate for people with epilepsy is around three times higher than the average population. She added that stigma at schools also negatively affects epileptic children.
  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Jun 18, 2015 10:35 pm
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    tÜrkİye
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    No Image
    A look back at Queen Elizabeth II's royal style
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021