World Encephalitis Day

Every year, families of those individuals who are affected by encephalitis come together to spread light on this condition. Encephalitis or inflammation of the brain has multiple causes, but viral infections are the most common ones. Globally Feb 22nd is celebrated as World Encephalitis Day to honour the millions of people who are suffering from encephalitis worldwide and empowers them with the right knowledge so that they can overcome the disease. This year, let's not break the chain of dangers of encephalitis and help the individuals by breaking the stigma associated with encephalitis.

A Brief History of Encephalitis

In 2014 Encephalitis society had established world encephalitis day. Encephalitis society is a Malton based charity organization in North Yorkshire, UK. However, when it was started, the theme was 'Make Today Your First' and had attained a good success rate. 2020 was the 6th edition of world encephalitis day, which is going to be celebrated for equipping survivors along with their families having the required understanding, resources, and support that will help assist them in coping with encephalitis. Whereas the encephalitis day 2021 is the 7th edition, and the theme is Lights, Camera, and Action!

Lights – Light up a local landmark Red for WED.

Camera – Wear Red for WED

Actions – Raise Awareness

The Encephalitis Society requests you to focus attention on encephalitis in 2021 to light up your nearby Red landmark for WED. If we name a few, they attempted to light up Niagara Falls in 2017, Perth's Bell Tower, Toronto's CN Tower, and London's Trafalgar Square.

Apart from encephalitis society, various other renowned organizations are committed to helping patients with encephalitis include the Anti-NMDA Receptor, Encephalitis 411, Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance, Encephalitis Foundation, and Encephalitis Global.

Did You Know These Facts And Figures?

• Approx. 78% of people worldwide are unaware of the disease called encephalitis.
• Every year, 500,000 people are affected by this.
• Globally, every minute 1 individual develops encephalitis.
• Out of these, 60% of cases remains undiagnosed.
• High death rates and brain damage is the only thing left with survivors.
• Irrespective of gender, age, sex, encephalitis can affect anyone.
• Some viral encephalitis can be treated with antiviral drugs such as Ganciclovir and Acyclovir.      

How You Can Get Involved In World Encephalitis Day

There are several ways by which you can get involved in world encephalitis day 2021:

By wearing red: for world encephalitis day, the awareness colour is red. Hence, to involve in world encephalitis day, you can wear something red like a cap, t-shirts, trousers, pants, and any other wear. This will not only show you are supporting the encephalitis patients but also generate funds for their treatment.

Social Media campaigns: You can inform your friends and family via social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, etc. The condition can be conveyed via a social media platform, and you can also encourage them to share the info for the creation of a snowballing effect. Moreover, you can use hashtags such as #Red4Wed.

BrainWalk: An award-winning app is developed by the Encephalitis society by which people can be a part of the virtual walking event, which is known as BrainWalk. You can walk virtually to the global locations where there is the relevance of encephalitis.

Fundraising events: Community level activities like cake sales, lotteries sponsored walks, or raffles can be organized. These activities will be for fun, and they will also create awareness regarding encephalitis. Fundraising can be spread through leaflets and pamphlets.

Information dissemination: On strategic places such as schools, colleges, high streets, malls, hospitals, shopping complexes, posters, banners, placards can be displayed to create awareness among the masses.

Donations: Herein, encouragement of masses for donation can be done whether they are your friends, relatives, or any unknown people can be done.

Why Is It Important To Celebrate?

78% of people in the total population are unaware of what encephalitis is! There is a dire need of celebrating world encephalitis day globally. However, this is something by which we can achieve our vision of MUST knowing encephalitis and its consequences and how people can support it.

What can you do to help?

You can play your part just by joining the world encephalitis day 2021 on Feb 22nd. As you are the most important part of this campaign, you can help the affected patients and also encourage others to help those individuals who cannot help themselves.

Your one step can save thousands of lives and bring a change in society. If you would this, it would be praiseworthy!

In a nutshell

Feb 22nd is celebrated as world encephalitis day. This year the theme is different, but the motto is the same to aware the public about encephalitis and to support the patients affected by it.