Date:14/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/14/stories/2008041450990200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Epilepsy no hurdle to success

Staff Reporter

— Photo: R. Ragu

EXPRESSING SUPPORT: Students of Stella Maris College taking out a rally to create awareness of epilepsy in Chennai on Saturday.

CHENNAI: Did you know that Swedish innovator Alfred Nobel, former South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes, Emperors Alexander and Julius Caesar, and writer Charles Dickens had epilepsy? Their condition did not stand in the way of their success.

Students of the Department of Public Relations of Stella Maris College carried this message to a large group of walkers on the Marina Beach on Saturday morning as part of a rally to create awareness of epilepsy.

The rally, which was flagged off by K. Radhakrishnan, Inspector-General of Police (North Zone), was organised as part of a media campaign titled ‘Prajna – Hit the Fit’ by the students.

Mr. Radhakrishnan said that people with epilepsy should not hesitate to tell friends and family about their problem so that they could get immediate support and assistance when needed. “Many people are not aware that epileptic convulsions can even lead to death. During the convulsions they might hurt themselves. Autorickshaw drivers, teachers, bus drivers and conductors and policemen need to know what to do when a person has an epileptic seizure on the road.”

K. Sundari, Head, Department of Public Relations of the college, said that the government should remove epilepsy from the list of causes for allowing divorce.

A number of women with epilepsy were abandoned by their families and had no means to sustain themselves.

The II nd year M.A. (P.R.) students recently conducted awareness programmes for MTC staff, college and school students, for autorickshaw drivers with the help of Tamilnadu Tourism Development Corporation and staged a play. They also designed pamphlets and posters as part of the campaign.