Hichem used to be an epileptic, working as a blacksmith. To start with, he tried to conceal his illness from his employer. He took medication for over ten years until the day it stopped having any effect. This is the story of a young Tunisian who was able to banish the condition once and for all, and start to enjoy life once more, thanks to the Tunisian medical team who carried out the operation and the EUMEDCONNECT2 project being rolled out in several Mediterranean countries and enjoying European Commission funding of €4 million. The initiative is based on exchanges of information and scientific data between 700 institutions throughout North Africa and the Middle East and 4,000 research and education bodies in Europe.

1. Information society > Tunisia
A research and education network
to tackle the oldest affliction
n A technician in front of a screen for
electroencepahlografies
Hichem used to be an epileptic, www.enpi-info.eu
working as a blacksmith. To start with,
he tried to conceal his illness from his employer. He took
medication for over ten years until the day it stopped having any effect. This is
the story of a young Tunisian who was able to banish the condition once and
for all, and start to enjoy life once more, thanks to the Tunisian medical team
who carried out the operation and the EUMEDCONNECT2 project being rolled
out in several Mediterranean countries and enjoying European Commission
funding of €4 million. The initiative is based on exchanges of information and
scientific data between 700 institutions throughout North Africa and the
Middle East and 4,000 research and education bodies in Europe.
Text and photographs by : Lotfi TOUATI
TUNIS –"My life has been completely transformed since the day I was admitted to Monastir hospital to undergo intricate
brain surgery" says Hicham Béjaoui, a 29-year-old Tunisian who used to suffer from epilepsy. Nearly two years ago he
agreed to have an operation. His closely shaven skull reveals a long scar on the right-hand side. Now
This publication does running a Tunis-based engineering company producing wrought iron products, Hichem Béjaoui
not represent the spent a long period of his life contending with severe epilepsy-related problems, which seriously
official view of the EC hampered his social and, above all, professional fulfilment.
or the EU institutions.
The EC accepts no
responsibility or A complex condition ENPI Info Centre – Feature no. 32
liability whatsoever This is a series of features on
His woes began when he was 11 months old, the day he had his
with regard to its projects funded by the EU’s
first convulsions subsequent to a high fever. "Epilepsy involves a Regional Programme, prepared by
content.
succession of fits caused by a shock owing to abnormal and un- journalists and photographers on
controlled brain activity. The pathology can be genetic or acquired the ground or the ENPI Info
Centre. ENPI Info Centre/EU 2010©
as a result of a trauma," explains Dr. Hela Khiari, a neurologist at

2. A research and education network to tackle the oldest affliction p.2
ENPI Info Centre - Feature no. 32
Charles Nicolle Hospital, in Tunis "First of all I
Hichem is unable to shake off the memories of tried to con-
the dreadful experiences at work, times when ceal my illness
he would have blackouts in the company until the day
where he was employed as a blacksmith. "First arrived when
of all I tried to conceal my illness, knowing that the drugs no
no employer would put up with one of his longer had
workers suffering from a chronic illness, espe- any effect on
cially if it upset the smooth running of his com- my body: sur-
pany's activities. I took medication for over a gery was my
decade - continues Hichem - until it no longer only hope"
had any effect on my body. I started to have
more and more fits, with the result that my
employer decided I would have to stop work-
n old patient who has successfully ing for him."
undergone surgery The doctor then referred Hichem to Professor Amel Mrabet, departmental manager at
Charles Nicolle hospital in Tunis. Once he had examined the case, and subjected the pa- "It was in
tient to various tests and EEGs the doctor asked Hichem if he would agree to undergo 2006 that we
surgery. "I agreed without thinking too much about it and did so for two reasons – says embarked
Hichem – first of all, I am a firm believer, certain that my fate is in the hands of God. Sec- upon a
ond, the condition was becoming more and more difficult to cope with so I had to find process en-
the right cure once and for all ". abling us to
operate on
Two millions users 20 or so
Hichem certainly did not know how lucky he was: 2005 was the year in which a part- Tunisian
nership was forged between Charles Nicolle hospital in Tunis and the same hospital in patients in
n Dr Hela Khiari
neurologist, in charge of looking Rouen under the "EUMEDCONNECT2" project. The partnership project covers scientific Monastir
after patients
research communities active in institutions in seven countries in the southern and east- hospital"
ern Mediterranean - including Tunisia. An underground network of cables serves to link
up the various institutions, so these countries are able to share data, documents and
experiences in all areas. Thanks to the EUMEDCONNECT2 project, roughly two million
users in nearly 700 institutions throughout North Africa and the Middle East are able to
cooperate with their peers in more than 4,000 research and education establishments
"We have a lot to
in Europe.
thank the project
The neurology department at Charles Nicolle hospital in Tunis tapped into the network
for, as it has al-
to send EEG tracings to the neurology department at Charles Nicolle hospital in Rouen.
lowed us to make
The aim was to be able to make more detailed investigations of the tracings of epilepsy
significant
patients so as to make a joint assessment of the chances of these patients being suc-
progress in pro-
cessfully operated upon to rid them of this condition for once and for all.
cessing the cases
of prospective sur-
gery patients. In Acquiring the know-how
"This exchange is a great time-saver and,
the wake of the op-
first and foremost, helps us to select the
eration 90% of pa-
people who can benefit from surgery," ac-
tients are able to
cording to Professor Amel Mrabet, head
live a normal life."
of the neurology department at Charles
Nicolle hospital, in Tunis, adding: "It was
in 2006 that we embarked upon a process
enabling us to operate on over 20 n future candidate for
Tunisian patients in Monastir hospital. We the surgery

3. A research and education network to tackle the oldest affliction p.3
ENPI Info Centre - Feature no. 32
n Monastir are now in a position to claim having acquired expertise in the wake of this
hospital successful collaboration. We have a lot to thank the project for, as it has al-
lowed us to make significant progress in processing the cases of prospective
surgery patients
In the wake of the operation 90% of patients are able to live a normal life, with-
out having fits, after a two-year period. So the way is now clear for many
epileptics. In the meantime, Hichem has become the go-to-person on this
score, because he is the individual all the prospective surgery patients turn
to, seeking assurances about the outcome of the operation and raising other
concerns. One example is Brahim Bouzidi, a 29-year-old Tunisian, who is hav-
ing an EEG tracing recorded during a week at Charles Nicolle hospital in Tunis.
He very much hopes that he will qualify for an operation so he can be rid of
the condition for once and all.
EUMEDCONNECT2
www.eumedconnect2.net
The partnership project covers scientific research communities active in institutions in seven
countries in the southern and eastern Mediterranean. A network of cables serves to link up
the various institutions, so these countries are able to share data, documents and experiences
in all areas. Thanks to the EUMEDCONNECT2 project, roughly two million users in nearly 700
institutions throughout North Africa and the Middle East are able to cooperate with their peers
in more than 4,000 research and education establishments in Europe.
Participating countries Aims
Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, The project seeks to underpin and boost cooperation between Europe and the Mediterranean
Morocco, the Palestinian partner countries in the field of research and education. The initiative aspires to ensure the long-
Territories, Syria, Tunisia. term sustainability of the Internet infrastructure established by EUMEDCONNECT 1 in 2004. The aim
is also to create a sustainable support network able to narrow the digital divide between countries
Timeframe and facilitate cooperation.
2008-2010
Budget Find out more
€4 million Site EUMEDCONNECT2 > www.eumedconnect2.net
A new high-capacity Internet network for research and education >
http://www.enpi-info.eu/mainmed.php?id=21187&id_type=1&lang_id=450
The ENPI Info Centre is an EU-funded Regional
Information and Communication project
highlighting the partnership between the EU and
Neighbouring countries. The project is managed
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by Action Global Communications.
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