Intercountry Exchange and Support Within the Region

Summary:  The foundation of the Asian and Oceanian Epilepsy Organization dates back to the 25th Annual Meeting of the Japan Epilepsy Society held in Shizuoka, Japan, in 1991, to which roughly a dozen epilepsy specialists were invited from neighboring countries. The objectives of this volunteers' group were to strengthen kinship among medical professionals involved in epilepsy in the region. Since then, visitors to the National Epilepsy Center in Shizuoka, some for weeks and some for months or years, joined us to establish in-service training. In the 1990s, epilepsy societies or research groups were founded in individual countries. On the occasion of meetings, mutual exchange of faculty members has become more and more frequent. This is a grass-roots movement to nuture colleagues interested in epileptology. In 1995, the International League Against Epilepsy officially launched the Commission on Asian and Oceanian Affairs to stimulate epileptology and enhance chapter formation. The Asian and Oceanian Congress was inaugulated in Seoul, Korea, in 1996, followed by the 2nd congress in Taipei, Taiwan, in 1998; the 3rd, in New Delhi, India, in 2000; and the 4th in Nagano, Japan, in 2002. The Commission also organized Epilepsy Teaching Courses in Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Mongolia, and Nepal to reinforce infrastructures of epilepsy management. The Asian and Oceanian Epilepsy Academy, now being organized, will bring about more active programs in exchange and support for medical professionals in the region.