President Milanović Meets with Croatian Epilepsy Association Delegation

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović met today in the Office of the President with representatives of the Croatian Epilepsy Association on the occasion of World Day of the Sick, International Epilepsy Day and National Day of Patients with Epilepsy, which fall on the same day this year, Monday, 14 February.

Association representatives whose members are professionals specifically involved in the treatment of epilepsy, patients with epilepsy and members of their families made a presentation to President Milanović on the goals and activities of their Association, and talked about their vast experience. The Croatian Epilepsy Association has been in operation since 1997 and its goal is to improve the quality of life of patients with epilepsy and their loved ones, and enhance understanding of the nature of epilepsy as well as of the needs of patients with epilepsy.

They further stated that, from the start, the Association has organized many activities including education of patients with epilepsy, members of their families and the broader community on the medical and social aspects of epilepsy, and has provided support to patients with epilepsy and raised awareness on epilepsy. They underlined that epilepsy represents a major public health issue due to the large number of patients with epilepsy according to statistics. It is estimated that there are some 50 million patients with epilepsy worldwide, six million in Europe and 40,000 in Croatia.

At the meeting in the Office of the President were Association president Primarius Ana Sruk, MD, Neurology specialist; Latica Friedrich, MD, Neurology specialist; Primarius Matilda Kovač Šižgorić, MD, Pediatrics specialist; Monika Kukuruzović, PhD, MD, Neurology specialist, and epilepsy patients Maja Bokunić, Sanja Kobešćak, MSc, Veselka Šoštarić, and Damir Đurić. Alongside President Milanović was Assoc. Prof. Željko Jovanović, PhD.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta