Epilepsy patients decry lack of drugs and discrimination

Epilepsy patients in Homa Bay County have lamented about the lack of drugs and the continued stigmatisation by society.

Epilepsy is a non-communicable disease that presents a chronic brain disorder that causes seizures, which are abnormal electrical discharges in the brain. 

Levina Magambo, who is epileptic, says she spends up to Sh7,200 every month on medication.

“The cost of managing the disease is very high. I spend a large part of my salary to buy medicine. Buying the drugs is very expensive,” Magambo says.

The patients called on the county government to consider providing drugs at the nearest health facilities.

Currently, they rely on the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).  However, the MSF only provides the drugs at Marindi and Nyalkinyi sub-county hospitals in Homa Bay Sub-county.

This forces patients from the remaining nine sub-counties to travel long distances to access the drugs.

Epilepsy patients also suffer discrimination due to myths and misconceptions about the disease.

David Ouma said he was diagnosed with the condition in 2018.

“People have various myths about epilepsy. For example, was taken to places of worship for prayers to cure the disease,” Ouma says.

MSF Project Coordinator Bright Mukhuna said they support up to 190 people with epilepsy who collect drugs from the designated health facilities.

“There are many problems persons suffering from epilepsy face when they want to access treatment. Most of them are disturbed mentally because they are sidelined and struggle to find jobs,” Mukhuna says.

Speaking during the celebration of World Epilepsy Day at Marindi Sub-county Hospital, Amukhuna said MSF is contemplating on decentralisation of treatment to enable more patients to access drugs.

Homa Bay Sub-county Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ben Otieno said epilepsy is manageable and urged patients to take medication.

“Let residents avoid discrimination against people with epilepsy. Medication manages the disease well,” Otieno said.