Dear respected colleagues, Dear patients and friends and relatives of patients,

China Association Against Epilepsy (CAAE) is officially inaugurated with the approval of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

CAAE is a nationwide professional social organization integrating the multiple functions of medical science, public health, social services, friendly care, etc., which has been established with approval as a result of efforts made by multidisciplinary medical workers and social workers who are engaged in the prevention and control of epilepsy as well as expectations of epileptics and their relatives for many years. The establishment of CAAE is of great significance for promoting scientific and normative treatment of 9 million people with epilepsy in the country, rectifying the social discrimination and prejudice against them and safeguarding their lawful rights and interests; for improving medical treatment, scientific research and education on epilepsy, and; for enhancing international cooperation and participating in relevant international organizations on behalf of the Chinese epilepsy community. It is a milestone in the development of prevention and control of epilepsy in China.

According to the reports of the World Health Organization, there are around 50 million people with epilepsy in the world, including 40 million patients in the developing countries. Of these people, 60-90% do not receive medical treatment or normalized treatment. There are around 9 million people with epilepsy in China, including 6 million people with active epilepsy. Moreover, there is an addition of 0.4 million new cases each year. A survey suggests that nearly 65% of these patients do not receive appropriate medical treatment. A lot of patients and their relatives readily believe some untruthful advertisements or hearsay without any scientific basis, as a Chinese saying goes, "seeking medical treatment blindly in case of sickness". This will not only delay appropriate medical treatment, but also result in great economic burden. Furthermore, due to the lack of relevant knowledge and under the influence of traditional custom or superstitious ideas, many people with epilepsy not only suffer from the condition, but also endure the social pressure. They receive unfair treatment or even discrimination in respect of employment, education and marriage. The patients and their relatives are to various extents under mental load and with a scared mentality or stigmatization. Therefore, epilepsy is not only a physical disease, but also a mental illness. Furthermore, it is not only a disease, but also an issue of public health.

For this reason, it is a primary task of CAAE to care for epileptics and protect their rights and interests, so that they can receive timely and appropriate medical treatment and get out of the shadow of common prejudice. In this regard, we need active cooperation and support from education, employment, public security, community management and other sectors as well as pharmaceutical enterprises and the patients and their relatives.

In recent years, we have achieved rapid development in the prevention and control of epilepsy and gradually generated our own features of expertise. Our experts and scholars play an active role on the international scene, which facilitates the improvement of China's expertise in this area. However, it shall also be recognized that the situation of prevention and control of epilepsy is still severe for China, a large developing country with a big population.

As one of national academic organizations, CAAE will actively bring into play the specialist and academic advantages in its future operations to truly serve as a bridge and link among epilepsy professionals for exchange and cooperation. At the same time, we will make great efforts to spread knowledge on prevention and control of epilepsy, conduct training activities, introduce and promote new technologies and products. The association will also endeavor to build up a platform for academic exchanges among young scholars, allowing more young professionals to become directly acquainted with the latest international accomplishments and progress in medical treatment and scientific research on epilepsy, with a view to support and encourage the development of young scholars as quickly as possible.

As an industrial social organization, CAAE will actively undertake the tasks assigned by government authorities, provide advice and recommendation for relevant decisions of the government, enhance and improve industrial standards and expedite the development of the discipline.

In 1997, the World Health Organization (WHO), International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and International Bureau For Epilepsy (IBE) jointly initiated the Global Campaign Against Epilepsy (GCAE), aiming at helping people with epilepsy get out of the shadow through global cooperation to improve the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and social acceptance of epilepsy. CAAE will actively participate in the campaign and commit itself to enhance the cooperation with ILAE and IBE; it will also strive for project supports from the government and WHO to increase its monetary investments in the cause against epilepsy; in addition, it will take the initiative to present China's achievements in clinical and scientific research on epilepsy to the world and become an window of China's prevention and control of epilepsy onto the world.

It is pleasing that the creation and establishment of the association has got positive responses from lots of epilepsy professionals. In just a few months, nearly 2000 experts, scholars and relevant professionals in the field of epilepsy from 27 provinces and cities have applied for the membership of the association, while the number of group members has amounted to 62.

I am sure that, under the kindness of Ms. He Luli, Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress, with the strong support of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Health, under the specific guidance of many advisors and senior experts who are well known at home and abroad, with the enthusiastic efforts by young and middle aged experts as well as with the direct participation of relevant social workers and the patients and their relatives, CAAE will definitely be able to get rid of traditional concepts, achieve solidarity and innovation, build up a good academic atmosphere and arouse the attention of the whole society, so that it can truly undertake the mission of bringing benefit to epileptics and the society, accelerate the development of China's cause against epilepsy and making its due contributions in the process of building a harmonious society.