By ILYANA Sithole
Commemorated every year on the second Monday of February, today under the theme “Milestones on My Epilepsy Journey” the world recognizes one of the world’s oldest known medical conditions.
On this day health activists shine a light on the challenges faced by people living with epilepsy. Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder which is also known as seizure disorder. This condition causes electrical activity in the brain to stop for a short time which leads to recurrent seizures.
Triggered by underlying health conditions and emotions, this day exists to educate the populace about epilepsy, equipping them with information on how to provide better care for people living with the disorder.
Jacob Ngwenya who is a Health Policy Entrepreneur with Beat Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) Zimbabwe said, “Zimbabwe has a lot to do when it comes to epilepsy, both the state and Non-Governmental Organizations. There is a need to implement wide awareness campaigns on this condition because it is not talked about so much”. WHO says an estimated 5 million people are diagnosed with this disorder each year. By the time of publication the rate of those suffering from this order was not yet available.
Ngwenya however goes on to say that this disorder is rarely talked about, be it in the media, bar small talk, or people generally discussing and if the conversation is sparked a lot of people will have the knowledge needed to stop the stigma and eradicate the myths associated with it. For instance, “putting a spoon when one is having convulsions does not assist the person but can create problems like jaw breaking, teeth breaking or chipping so breaking the culture of silence is important”.
When people discuss epilepsy, it is often done silently, as if the seizures are caused by discussing it out loud. Lack of information and misinformation about the disease has generally caused quite a number of people to be unsettled whenever someone says they suffer from epilepsy. International Epilepsy Day is fashioned to erase the stigma associated with epilepsy and give helpful information about it.
With many people dying from epilepsy every year, it is pertinent that the disorder is discussed and awareness is created as more than one in 1000 people die suddenly due to epilepsy. WHO says “part of this is because, in many countries, they do not receive appropriate treatment because people, even medical professionals, do not have enough information about how to treat the disease”.In Zimbabwe there is need to decentralize resources to each province as the country only has EEG test machines in Bulawayo and Harare.
Being a disorder caused by brain damage, genetic conditions, severe head injury, stroke, infection of the brain, brain tumor and certain genetic syndromes, Ngwenya advises that people should take medication according to the doctor’s instructions and people with epilepsy should not stigmatize themselves.
The sole purpose of this day is to provide a platform for people to talk about their experiences with the disorder and for those without any knowledge to acquire information on epilepsy as a disease and also do’s and don’ts when one is having convulsions while promoting awareness and removing the stigma surrounding the condition.
