Society’s view on Epilepsy as a disability: Children silently suffering while hidden away in homes

The question of whether Epilepsy should be classified as a form of disability hit me hard this week on my second day of raising awareness about the condition in Kajiado North Constituency, Kajiado County. The Maasai community predominantly occupies this area. In their Maasai culture, having a disability is seen as a curse and stigma levels are rampant among the local population, so the children are hidden away without the extent of their disability or treatment options being assessed. In almost every family, there is a baby who has died, and many parents have no idea what to do if their baby develops common ailments such as jaundice or fever. Those living with disability are rarely, if ever, given public exposure. They do not receive education, medical attention or get any assistive devices.