- Kajenje urged county governments to partner with Kawe as it seeks to open epilepsy clinics in all counties
- Chibule said the clinic will offer services at a subsidised cost to ensure access for everyone
Image: ALPHONCE GARI
More than 15,000 epileptic patients from Kilifi county have received relief after a new epilepsy clinic was opened at the Malindi Subcounty Hospital.
The clinic, funded by Chandaria Foundation through the Kenya Association for the Welfare of People With Epilepsy, is expected to reduce the costs of travel for patients.
It will also increase awareness to end the stigma on the disease that has been associated with witchcraft.
Kilifi Deputy Governor Flora Chibule said the clinic will assist mental health patients.
“In the past 42 years, we have been urging people with epilepsy to come forward and receive treatment. We have evidence of people who have been treated and are living normal lives for the past 40 years,” said Maurice Kajenje, a director at Kawe.
More than 5,000 epilepsy patients are currently being seen in Kawe clinics countrywide.
Initially, the clinics were concentrated in Nairobi but are currently spread out since the advent of devolution.
The Malindi clinic was established following the high prevalence of the condition.
The Malindi will serve patients from as far as Lamu and Tana River.
“Devolution has helped us reach the counties and that’s why we are here today. We intend to move to Kisii to serve South Nyanza better. We have clinics in Kendu Bay Kisumu, Nairobi and Tharaka Nithi,” Kajenje said.
Kajenje urged county governments to partner with Kawe as it seeks to open epilepsy clinics in all counties.
Chibule said the clinic will offer services at a subsidised cost to ensure access for everyone.
“Mine is to emphasise to residents of Kilifi county, who have patients with this condition, please come out and seek medication at the new epilepsy clinic in Malindi, do not hide the patients at home,” she said.
Chibule said as a county they will partner with organisations such as Kawe to ensure drugs are easily accessible.
She thanked Kawe for the initiative and assured them of the county's full support.
Beatrice Njeru, a clinician running the epileptic and mental health clinic at the Malindi Subcounty Hospital said they previously operated in a congested area with no privacy.
“Today I am a very happy clinician because we will be able to attend to our patients well. Kilifi county has more than 15,000 people with epilepsy, some of whom cannot access our facilities,” she said.
Safari Kapishi, a parent with an epileptic child from Mwangatini in Magarini Subcounty, said the clinic will end their suffering.
He said the daughter got a sponsor from KUHENZA who is helping her get expensive medication and without the help, he could not have afforded them.
“As a parent, it has been tough dealing with the disease, I have not given up but it's not easy, there are many people out there who are not able to take their patients to the hospital,” he said.