By Tasia Doreen

Moyo

Epilepsy is a central nervous system (neurological) disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations and sometimes loss of awareness.

There are many possible causes of epilepsy including imbalance of nervous system –signaling chemicals called neuro-transmitters, tumors, strokes, and infections during pregnancy, accidents during deliveries and brain damage from illness or injury or some combination of these.

Epilepsy affects every category of age and sex though it cannot be transmitted or inherited. There are a number of myths and misconceptions surrounding epilepsy which has affected social lives and treatment of the patients. Many people still believe in a wide range of potential causes of epilepsy with over two thirds endorsing demonic possessions and witch craft.

Despite several intervention by different stakeholders to ensure that Epilepsy patients receive treatment, it is still a neglected condition in the communities due to the beliefs myths and misconceptions attached to it by many people.
The patients have continued to suffer discrimination and isolation resulting to depression.

Mr. Patrick Kyeyune the epilepsy project manager Lutheran World Federation (LWF) narrated that epilepsy is one of health neglected problems globally with a number of children suffering and denied access to education as a result of the misinformation regarding the disease. “Children also suffer from epilepsy just as the adults do but unfortunately because of the so many misinformation that are there you find that children do not get the care they deserve, they are mistreated because we have wrong information which negatively impacts on the children as most parents get fade up of taking care of them,” he was quoted saying.

Mr. Isaac Iture a psychologist working with LWF during a talk show on Radio Pacis explained that, some of the myths and misconception that the community believe in are, that epilepsy is contagious, people think that when you touch the urine or saliva of these people, the disease can spread to you, which is not true.
 
WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE WITH EPILEPSY

Ms. Mandera Grace an epileptic mother in Moyo District says that she started experiencing the disorder after getting married with four children but before that even in school she always felt strong headache.

After my four children, it became very severe like for two years in the marriage I was vulnerable and unable to support and take care of the family so I ended up separating with my husband. ‘‘It is not easy, People despise us in the community even when you talk in public they tend to relate it to the sickness, others say she is talking like that because of the mental illness’’, she remarked.

She also encouraged people to always seek treatment from the health facilities rather than going to traditionalists.
Mr. Kaggawa Godfrey another epileptic patient in parego village Moyo District stressed that he started experiencing the disease since childhood which made it very difficult for him to proceed with studies and ended up dropping out in primary six. ‘‘I could prepare so well for the papers but reaching the examinations room, I would be attacked by the disease forcing me to quit, ’he said. It has been hard to relate socially for example in finding a wife just because of the sickness. 

The District Community Development Officer Moyo, Mr. David Anyama emphasized the need to support these people since their lives are very challenging. ‘‘The community needs to be empowered on how to help these people, the community looks at them negatively, and people do not want to be next to them because of the myths’’, he pointed

He also cited the need to build the capacity of the community members on giving first aid to the epileptic patients while in dire conditions.
Epilepsy is common and estimated that 1 in 26 people develop the disorder, according to epilepsy foundation.

The study unveiled that the national prevalence rate of epilepsy in Uganda is alarmingly  high at 1.69 percent indicating that over 770,000 Ugandans are living with the disease.