PESHAWAR, May 9: More than 1.5 million people are suffering from epilepsy in the country, says a neurologist, adding that because of lack of awareness only 30 per cent of such people know of their ailment.

According to Prof Hasan Aziz, epilepsy is prevalent in half a per cent to one per cent people of any country. Studies have shown that one per cent of Pakistanis are epileptic with children being the worst patients. Only 30 per cent of those patients in urban areas are taking medicines regularly to fight the disease.

Talking to this correspondent, he said temporary brain diseases such as meningitis, encephalitis, brain tumour and haemorrhage could cause epileptic attacks.

To develop awareness among people about epilepsy, he said, a countrywide campaign was launched two years back. In Karachi, he claimed, they had controlled the disease, saying 29 satellite centres had been established there equipped with trained staff.

He said the programme would be extended to other parts of the country and added that after Peshawar free camps would be held in Quetta, Lahore and Islamabad to help people learn about and treat epilepsy. A team of doctors in Peshawar examined over 500 patients of epilepsy the other day, he added.