Kenyans urged to discard myths on epilepsy

Embu Health CEC Dr Jamleck Muturi (holding flag of Kenya) flags off a caravan on epilepsy campaign to mark World Epilepsy Day in Embu County on February 11, 2019. [Joseph Muchiri, Standard]

Health practitioners have raised concern that people with epilepsy and their families suffer from stigma because many Kenyans erroneously believe that the condition arises from curses.

National Epilepsy Coordination Committee (NECC) chairman Simon Kariuki said that due to such myths, epileptic people and their families are discriminated against. He said the myths are fuelled by lack of knowledge.

Speaking in Embu town, Kariuki said NECC had launched a nationwide campaign dubbed “Angaza Kifafa” that seeks to demystify these myths.

The campaign seeks to train health practitioners and community health volunteers (CHVs) on epilepsy.