Kenya: Over 800,000 People living with Epilepsy
By Lilian Museka
Today is world Purple day and up to 18.2 of 1,000 people are living with epilepsy condition in Kenya. This translates to around 800,000 to 1,000,000 victims in the country. However, there are about 600,000 untreated cases which translate to 60-80 percent.
And out of the estimated 7 million people living with epilepsy in the world, nearly 50 million have no access to quality treatment.
While launching the Kenya National Guidelines for The management of Epilepsy, a practical guide for healthcare workers 2014, Principle Secretary in the Ministry of Health Prof. Fred Segor said most victims shunned treatment due to stigma.
“Despite the fact that upto 70 percent of the victims can access treatment, most of them do not go because of stigma issues.” Said Prof Segor.
He called on the need to demystify myths and misconceptions surrounding epilepsy to allow victims access treatment and live a normal life.
He said cultural and spiritual beliefs have contributed to the stigma adding that it had been held in many countries that a person with the condition meant that they had been possessed by supernatural forces or powers.
“This belief is wrong because evidence show seizures were as a result or abnormal electrical discharges ina group of brain cells,” added Prof. Segor.
Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder characterized by repeated and unprovoked seizures occurring more than twice in a year. It may arise from various causes.
Currently, the condition has no known methods of prevention. The Prof. called on researchers and other stakeholders to come up with innovations that would lead to prevention measures rather curative.
Meanwhile Prof. P.G Kioy, chairman of Kenya Society of Epilepsy (KSE) called on the need to standardize management of the condition by prioritizing it. He encouraged People living With Epilepsy (PWE) to make informed choices by participating in their care, which in turn he added that would reduce the number of doctor visits.
Dr. Miyanji, chairman of Kenya Association for the Welfare of People with Epilepssy (KAWE) called on the need to address social issues which stigmatized PWE adding that many patients shunned medical as the society has isolated them.
“The misconception surrounding the condition has made it hard for the victims to access treatment as most times they are either isolated or are said to have been bewitched,” he added.
At the same time, Dr. William Maina, head of preventive and promotive health services in the ministry of health asked health workers to use the guidelines while administering treatment to the victims.
He said there was need for prompt and comprehensive treatment, adding that although epilepsy’s care in the country has been improving steadily, there was still a large treatment gap that needed to be addressed.
The guidelines will harmonize treatment of the condition by providing the standards for care as they are formulated for all health workers and are applicable to all levels.