Harare (New Ziana) -Lack of adequate information on epilepsy is complicating the lives of many people with the condition, which can easily be managed with proper medication, an expert said on Thursday.
Chairperson of the Disability Board Loveness Sibanda said this while addressing guests gathered to commemorate International Epilepsy Day in the capital.
Mostly people with varying forms of disabilities gathered at the Epilepsy Support Foundation (ESF) offices in Hatfield for the commemorations.
Sibanda said even people with other forms of disability despised those with epilepsy because they do not consider it a disability, while others think it is contagious.
She said some time back during the process of choosing a representative for people with disabilities in the Senate many questioned the suitability of people with epilepsy since they were not disabled.
“Epilepsy is a disability which makes it difficult for people with the condition to live normal lives, a situation that is being compounded by traditional leaders, healers and some self-proclaimed prophets,” she said.
Sibanda expressed optimism that the ESF was targeting these groups in spreading information on the condition in the hope of eventually overcoming the deep-rooted stigma and beliefs about epilepsy in communities.
“Its common when people consult traditional healers and prophets about epilepsy and other forms of disabilities to be told that it has something to do with avenging spirits,” she said.
“The source is often the traditional healers or prophets so these people need to be educated about this condition. Some of our colleagues are drowning while being immersed in water by prophets that take the fits to be manifestation of some evil spirits.”
She encouraged people with epilepsy, their relatives and guardians to first seek professional medical treatment as many were able to lead normal lives with proper medication.
The guests were treated to harrowing tales of the life journeys of some of the people with epilepsy, which was considered to be the manifestation of different forms of witchcraft.
Kundai Marume who has become one of the champions in the fight against the stigma directed at people with epilepsy said her condition first manifested itself soon after she got married, when she suffered seizures that were blamed on goblins and witchcraft.
Admitting to a short temper which she said was common among people with epilepsy, Marume said her father was fined a beast by a local chief after she attacked a “Tsikamutanda” (witch hunter) to whom she had been taken for diagnosis.
“We visited many prophets and healers, and the story was always the same that it was a goblin,” she said.
“There is not one corner of the country that I did not visit, and a lot of money was lost until I came to ESF where I was saved. It’s not witchcraft, it’s a form of illness, in fact it’s a disability.”
ESF acting board chairperson, Dr Billy Rigava said epilepsy could be managed with proper medication allowing people with the condition to actively participate in socio economic activities and contribute to the country’s economic transformation.
New Ziana
