Click here to read the full manifesto
Over 80 million people across Europe are suffering from a debilitating neurological condition that is ranked by the World Health Organisation as one of the top 20 causes of disability worldwide ... MIGRAINE.
However, despite its prevalence, migraine remains a much misunderstood condition that is often misunderstood and overlooked by both policy makers and the medical profession.
That's why the European Headache Alliance [EHA] has launched the ‘Madrid Manifesto on Migraine and other Headache Disorders' - a five year plan calling for migraine to be recognised as a disability and demanding increased awareness, education and research around the condition.
The manifesto was launched at the EHA's awareness event, held at the Spanish Parliament, Madrid on Monday, May 24th.
"Migraine needs to be put firmly on the political agenda," says Audrey Craven, EHA President, "Our manifesto is a call to European policy makers to make migraine awareness and research a top priority."
"For too long the condition has been seen as ‘just a headache' and migraineurs have been left to suffer in the silence and isolation of the darkened room," she continues.
Experts from all over Europe spoke at the conference, including Professor Jes Olesen, Founder of the European Brain Council [EBC], Mary Baker OBE, President of the European Federation of Neurological Associations [EFNA] and Professor Fabio Antonaci, President of the European Headache Federation [EHF].
European policy makers and representatives of patient organisations, health professionals and industry from across Europe were also present at the event, including Irish MEP, Nessa Childers.
"Unity is strength," says Ms Craven, "The conference highlighted how we can work together to achieve the aims set out in the Madrid Manifesto. Now it's about putting words into action."
If you have a view on the manifesto, please email donnawalsh@migraine.ie
You can download a copy via the link at the top of the page.
