Epilepsy friendly establishments in Iloilo City
Posters that read: "This is an epilepsy friendly establishment" are seen hanging in front of Iloilo's major establishments.
The Philippine League Against Epilepsy (PLAE) and the Epilepsy Awareness Advocacy Inc.-Iloilo (EAAI-Iloilo) partnered with private institutions for this special project called "Epilepsy friendly establishments".
A brainchild of a child neurologist in Iloilo City, Dr. Ma. Cynthia Javelosa Demaisip, the "Epilepsy Friendly Establishment" project started last August 18, 2006 and will continue until the end of the year. Conceptualized in Iloilo by Ilonggos, it is but fitting for the project to start in Iloilo City.
With this project, persons with epilepsy can now identify the places that welcomes them and can give them immediate care in case of an "attack". Persons with epilepsy can freely go to these places knowing they will be safe and taken cared of. Parents of children with epilepsy also now have peace of mind when they know their children are going to these "safe places".
Iloilo's neurologists, together with members of the EAAI and their friends from the pharmaceutical industry, have been busy going around giving lectures on epilepsy and first aid for epilepsy to banks, malls and other establishments around the city. Queen Bank was the first to welcome the project, followed by the United Coconut Planters Bank, the Development Bank of the Philippines and the Bank of the Philippine Islands (Iznart). Other establishments will follow suit.
SM City Iloilo not only had their employees attend the lectures but also all its mall tenants. SM Supermalls has laudably adopted the project for all its 26 malls around the country, so soon the sign "This is an epilepsy friendly establishment" will be seen not only in Iloilo but also nationwide. Who knows, years later buildings in New York, Paris and London will also have signs similar signs.