60,000 epileptic patients recorded nationwide

The National Coordinator, National Epilepsy Association of Sierra Leone (NAE –SL), Mr. Max Bangura has revealed that about sixty thousand (60,000) people are presently suffering from the epileptic disease nationwide.

The Coordinator made this disclosure during a nationwide epilepsy management awareness raising campaign involving all primary health care workers especially those in-charge of Peripheral Health Units (PHUs) in Magburaka.

Funded by a British grant in the United Kingdom, the national awareness programme aimed at bringing together the management of the sickness in PHUs at community level.

Mr. Bangura told the media in a brief interview that epilepsy was identified prior to the colonial era and that the victims were viewed with fear, suspicion and discrimination in society and commented on the plight of persons suffering the disability as evidenced by the lack of access to education, health care and sustainable livelihood.

He disclosed that out of the sixty thousand people affected, three thousand are under control, adding that drugs are administered on a cost recovery basis at strategic locations across the country.

Epilepsy, he said, is derived from a Greek word meaning to ‘hold’ or ‘seize’ something and that the disease is not transferrable.

Speaking during the awareness raising workshop, the District Medical Officer, Tonkolili District, Dr. Osaio Brima Kamara told participants that the epilepsy is not associated with any devilish or traditional beliefs and therefore urged participants to take it as a moral responsibility to help in the management of the sickness at their respective health centres.

Also speaking at the ceremony was the Tonkolili District Council Chairman, Abdul Kamathor Sesay while Consultant Neurologist, Prof. Dorodami Redcliff in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and Doctor in-charge of the Lumley Government Hospital in Lumley, Dr. Virgina George served as facilitators.

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