Summit Education SA - Malnormags.co.za

Epilepsy South Africa has for over 40 years
provided services to South Africans with epilepsy
and those affected by the condition. During
their recent Annual General Meeting held at the
Western Cape Branch in Lansdowne, the newly
registered Eastern Cape Office in East London
was officially recognised as a formal branch of
the organisation.
This recognition follows from three years of hard work
in the Eastern Cape to introduce the organisation to
communities, do needs assessments with persons with
epilepsy in the province and develop services according
to the needs assessed.
Most notably, challenges in the Eastern Cape province were
stated by communities as: a lack of proper healthcare
services (especially regarding specialist epilepsy treatment);
a lack of information and therefore awareness about the
condition which is in many Eastern Cape communities still
viewed as evil spirits or demon possession; challenges
regarding access to medication; limited or no nutrition,
sanitation and hygiene; severe stigma and discrimination
towards persons with epilepsy and the endemic proportions
of epilepsy in rural communities mostly due to tape worm
infection that leads to epileptic seizures.
Epilepsy South Africa established services in the province
during 2010 and has to date implemented a number
of initiatives and projects to support persons with the
condition. Of immediate concern was direct psychosocial
support to beneficiaries and support groups were
established at healthcare centres in Port Elizabeth, East
London and Mthatha.
Inclusive
education
Epilepsy
moves in the Eastern Cape
The successful Mobile Neurological Clinics model developed
by the South Cape & Karoo Branch of the organisation was
replicated in the Eastern Cape and implemented from
November 2012 in the rural East London region. These
clinics not only provide clinical care, but also educate both
persons with epilepsy and their caregivers about the many
aspects of the condition.
A vegetable garden project was piloted in the village of
Mhlabathi, just south of Mthatha, to initiate community
participation in the development of nutritional food that has
a vast influence on the effectiveness of medication. The
pilot project was joined with entrepreneurial development
training to provide the opportunity to become selfsustainable
and less dependent.
Further awareness talks and epilepsy training was
established, especially at schools where our young
generation, both children with and without epilepsy, are
educated about the condition to promote more inclusive
education, but also acceptance of one another regardless of
our personal challenges.
Epilepsy South Africa is proud to announce the opening of
this new branch and would like to invite the Eastern Cape
communities to get involved in this progressive move to
provide vital care to thousands of people in the province.
The sustainability of this branch also depends on the
support of the Eastern Cape community. l
Should you wish to contact the branch, please contact
Mr Madlala at 078 362 1078, or the National Office at
021 595 4900.
22131 Educ 02/2013
Education Southern Africa | November 2013 11