Nairobi: Kenya Association for Welfare of People with Epilepsy (KAWE) has called on Kenyans to stop stigmatization against people living with epilepsy noting that it is a treatable medical condition and not caused by curses or witchcraft. Epilepsy is a neurological condition that causes recurring seizures, and it can be a result of various factors including brain damage, developmental abnormalities, or gene inheritance.
According to Kenya News Agency, around 50 million people worldwide are living with epilepsy while in Kenya, the prevalence is one in every 18 people. Speaking during a sensitization forum with primary healthcare providers in Garissa, Nicholus Otieno, a clinical officer with KAWE, highlighted the need to train health workers to ensure that epileptic patients receive treatment at dispensaries closest to them.
'We are here to create awareness and make people understand that epilepsy is a treatable medical condition. We are also training the primary healthcare providers to ensure that when epilepsy patients come to the facilities, they get the right treatment and medical support,' Otieno said. He emphasized targeting community health promoters, chiefs, community leaders, and other decision-makers to spread proper information about epilepsy and dispel myths and misconceptions.
Otieno further explained the importance of empowering communities to handle seizures and provide first aid for persons with epilepsy. 'We also want to make sure that these persons are allowed to be part of the community activities so that they become productive. We want to see that the children with epilepsy are retained in schools and get employment like any other person,' he added.
Brian Tabani, another clinical officer with KAWE, pointed out that some epilepsy cases are linked to poor antenatal care and road accidents leading to brain injuries. He stressed the importance of community and medical workers' capacity building to prevent danger during seizures, thus saving lives.
Garissa County coordinator for non-communicable diseases, Nukta Mohamed, urged those affected by epilepsy to seek medical services for better disease management. She noted that epilepsy, although a non-communicable disease, is often neglected and shrouded in stigma. Nukta emphasized that with proper medical care, there are high chances of recovery, and most conditions predisposing to epilepsy are preventable.
In 2023, Garissa County reported over 2,018 cases of epilepsy in children, 1,340 cases in 2024, and 490 cases between January and June this year, indicating the need for continued efforts in awareness and treatment accessibility.