Homa Bay launches bold drive to crush epilepsy myths and stigma

KAWE Chief Clinician Bryan Tabani consults with Devlink's Joel Omer in Kisii, Suba North constituency/Robert Omollo

The Kenya Association for Welfare of People with Epilepsy (KAWE) is training health workers to fight stigma linked to patients with epilepsy in Homa Bay.

KAWE has started training the community health workers and health officers in the county to promote diagnosis and medication of the disease in villages.

Through a partnership with DEVLINK and the Homa Bay government, FAWE undertakes the project by empowering community health promoters (CHPs) and health workers who operate in dispensaries and health centres.

The empowerment is done by training CHPs and health workers employed in the primary health facilities. KAWE chief clinician Bryan Tabani said they started the programme after realising that more than 70 per cent of epilepsy patients were neglected. Due to such stigma, they are left to stay at home as the disease bites them.

“KAWE wants to bridge the gap that hinders medication of patients with epilepsy. The stigma is rife such that it causes more harm to epileptic persons,” Tabani said.

The Chief Clinician at KAWE, Bryan Tabani speaks during training in Kisui, Suba North constituency/Robert Omollo

Speaking when they launched the sensitisation programme at Kisui in the Suba North constituency, Tabani said training primary healthcare workers was important because they are the first people who handle patients before they are referred to higher-tiered health facilities. The programme is expected to be rolled out in the remaining constituencies across the county.

“For example, CHVs are the first-line doctors in the community. If they have misguided information, the whole community will get the right information about epilepsy,” he added.

The Kenya Association for Welfare of people with Epilepsy (KAWE) Chief Clinician Bryan Tabani speaks during training at Kisui in Suba North constituency/Robert Omollo

The county department of health’s Casper Ndole said many epilepsy patients are suffering at home because of myths and misconceptions. He said the training will help in providing the right information to epilepsy patients.

“There are people who believe that epilepsy is caused by witchcraft; hence, they don’t seek medication. This training is going to address the gaps because it also encompasses mobilisation too,” Ndole said.

He said epilepsy should be perceived as a disease that is manageable. DEVLINK’s Joel Omer said the programme will help in debunking myths surrounding epilepsy. Omer said there were some people who believe that epilepsy results from a curse.

“In the local community, we have come across people who believe that epilepsy is a curse or results from a bad omen. These myths have stigmatised many patients, but we are debunking them in this programme,” Omer said.