6th International Brain Awareness Week
10 - 16 March 2003
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Brain Awareness Week is a worldwide celebration of the brain that grows more
successful every year. It is an opportunity to let people know what is being
done to diagnose, treat and prevent disorders of the brain, such as Alzheimer's,
Parkinson's, stroke, schizophrenia, autism and depression, which affect the
lives of millions of people.
Every year, hundreds of public events to inspire interest in brain research
are staged as part of Brain Awareness Week, to draw attention to what is being
accomplished in scientific laboratories, and provide information about the brain
that everyone can understand.
Brain Awareness Week is in its sixth year and has become a major
international effort to communicate the achievements of brain research. Events
in South Africa fall under the activities of the European Dana Alliance for the
Brain (EDAB). Says Lisa Cokayne-Naylor, EDAB Communications Officer:
"Brain Awareness Week (BAW) is an important campaign to promote
awareness of the brain, and the research being done to alleviate brain
disorders. Every March hundreds of BAW events take place in over 50 countries
across the world.
The European Dana Alliance for the Brain is delighted that the Mental Health
Information Centre of South Africa will be our partner for Brain Awareness Week
2003. The MHIC organised fantastic events about the brain across South Africa in
2002, and the programme for BAW 2003 will be even more successful."
The MHIC and its BAW partners has arranged a full programme to take place in
the week of 10 to 16 March 2003, including:
§ A media tea on 19 February 2003 at the Cullinan Hotel, Cape Town. The aim
is to introduce journalists to our campaign, our partners and our programme.
§ Press alerts and releases will be forwarded to a national database of
journalists covering the printed, air, and electronic popular media.
§ A neurosciences workshop for mental health consumer and support group
facilitators will take place on Saturday, 15 March 2003 at the Panorama Medi-Clinic.
Expert speakers will explain their work and latest advances within their fields
following a train-the-trainer model so that attendees may in turn educate their
group members.
§ Neurosciences competition. A crossword puzzle will be published in the
popular media with prizes worth R2000.00 being awarded in two age categories.
Questions cover the work of various support and neuroscience interest groups.
Those completing the puzzle will be encouraged to contact these groups for the
correct answers, thereby creating public awareness of the work being done for
those suffering from e.g. schizophrenia, depression, autism, anxiety and other
brain conditions.
§ Free memory testing and educational talks will be held at Panorama Medi-Clinic
and at the Langspanbrink Old Age Home on Wednesday, 12 March 2003.
§ Public presentations will be held at community and educational venues
covering topics such as stress management (Tuesday 11 March), dementia and
improving your memory (Thursday 13 March), and memory tips (Friday 14 March).
§ Special Brain Awareness Week posters will be distributed to doctor's
rooms, clinics and other public venues.
For more information regarding Brain Awareness Week 2003 and the
collaborating partners, please contact the Mental Health Information Centre at
(021) 938-9229 or e-mail us at mhic@sun.ac.za.
Brain Awareness Week 2003 is a joint educational campaign by Mental Health
Information Centre of SA, Dept of Health: Mental Health Programme, Southern
African Neuroscience Society, Memory Clinics (Tygerberg, Panorama, Groote Schuur),
MIND, SA Federation for Mental Health, Cape Mental Health Society, Cape Support
for Mental Health, Autism Western Cape, Post Natal Depression Support
Association of SA, Obsessive Compulsive Association of South Africa, Depression
& Anxiety Support Group of SA, Schizophrenia Foundation of SA, Alzheimer's
& Related Disorders Association, MRC Unit on Anxiety & Stress Disorders
and the European Dana Alliance for the Brain.
BAW 2003 in South Africa is sponsored by the University of Stellenbosch:
Dean's Office, EDAB, Panorama Medi-Clinic, Janssen-Cilag, Novartis, Pfizer &
the Department of Health.
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