Thursday, March 28, 2024

First Lady Thandiwe highlights the plight of epilepsy patients

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First Lady Thandiwe Banda has reaffirmed government’s commitment to provide Anti-Epileptic Drugs to those in need of the drugs.

Mrs. Banda noted that Anti-Epileptic Drugs which have been made accessible in most of the health centres have helped in reducing the number of Epilepsy seizure cases in the country.

She explained that Epilepsy is a condition that is associated with profound psychology, physical and social and has affected mostly children, women and the elderly.

She observed that stigma against people with Epilepsy has also increased which has made patients feel unaccepted in society.

Mrs. Banda said due to the stigma some epilepsy patients have gone to great lengths in their search to find a cure such as going to witch doctors and herbalists,among others.

She was speaking when she officiated at this year’s Seizure Free Patients’ Day in Lusaka today.

Mrs. Banda said it is the responsibility of all the communities in the country to encourage their patients to seek medical attention and ensure drug adherence if the free seizure society is going to be achieved.

She said governments also appreciate the concerted efforts made by cooperating partners in identifying people with Epilepsy and also bringing health care services closer to their communities.

The first lady further retaliate the importance of Doctor-Patient relationship saying health care providers should give correct information about Epilepsy to clients in simple terms to arrive at an appropriate treatment according the seizure pattern.

She however, advised Epilepsy patients in the country to adhere to medication and strive to aim high, adding that the condition can not stop them to progressing in life.

And speaking early, Epilepsy Association of Zambia (EAZ) Chairman Anthony Zimba said seizure cases in the country have reduced and that the condition of most patients has improved.

Mr. Zimba further noted that Zambia has performed well at the international level in its quest to achieve a seizure free society.

He further commended government through the Ministry of Health for the support it has been giving to his organization.

And Health Minster Kampamba Simbao in a speech read on his behalf by Ministry of Health Director for Technical Services Velepi Mtonga, bemoaned the increasing number stigma of epilepsy patients in schools and at workplaces.

Mr. Simbao also emphasized the need for other stakeholders to participate in the valuation of care and reduce the stigma attached to the condition.

ENDS/MM/AM/ZANIS.

44 COMMENTS

  1. bravo mrs banda,i couldn’t agree with you more.one thing that troubles me a lot is the attitude of the avarage zambian not only to epilepsy but also to mental illness in general.most mental patients go through such strong levels of stigmatisation which unfortunately,due the strong dependance of mental illness on the attitude of those around you,worsens the condition.the simple medical explanation for all disease(from gastritis to depression) is the same – the slowing down or speeding up of the body’s chemical reactions.the variety comes in when we start looking at the causes.anyway my point is mental illness is just that – illness.and like all patients they deserve our love and support.

  2. rags to riches, there are so many issues to deal with in **== we need educated people with brains to tackle **==ian problems. Pulizzzzzzzzzzzi

  3. # 5 aka donya donya. You couldn’t have said it better. Thanks for the intelligent contribution. It is high time that the country starts addressing such issues.

  4. <:-p, I appreciate the observations made by Mrs Banda. As a person who has suffered from epilepsy, i totally understand what people like me go through in society.

  5. Its about time first ladies stopped sitting at home baking cookies or is it cooking nshima and going around tospend.. strat working for the people of Zambia who hired you for the jobs. You may also want tostart tackling poverty and looking at increasing the hospitals for the mentally challenged

  6. Bravo! ana Banda, you are a caring wife. Your profile is not yet on the Zambian state House website, still Maureen as first lady and MMCI why? could anyone explain to me please cos i find it unusual.

  7. #18 Mrs Phiri that just shows what a disgrace some of our organisation is.
    The whole machinery of statehouse cannot update a website profile? Pathetic! There’s supposed to be a daily update at the least.

  8. Pretty true , there is so much ignorance about epilepsy as a disease among many zambians regardless of level of education .This is very much contributing to stigma. Anyone with brain trauma say from road traffic accident can suffer from epilepsy so basically we are all at risk.

  9. #5 donya donya youb are absolutely right.we all have to purt in our level best and fight this stigma,it feels so bad and mostly people that are epileptic are not considered i dont know why.its high time we changed.

  10. #5 Donya Donya
    I agree with you entirely about people’s attitudes to epilepsy. I have experienced epilepsy first hand from one of my younger brothers. I know what it is like and I feel what Madam 1st Lady is talking about. Today I can thank God that my brother is fine now and there are no traces of epilepsy which he had when he was about 2yrs and stayed with him for 5 or so years.

    Matworld my friend, where are you?

  11. 328 Jelita
    Thandiwe knows about kunyu. That is the epilepsy you are reading about. She grew up in Eastern province and kunyu is a popular ailment if ever there is such a term

  12. Enough said about AIDS ai? So nomba ku landako pali disease iya fisama! Kwena no good starting strategy iya recognition…! I hope you last long and have other important issues to raise…

  13. Lusaka

    Oh!! my dear where have you been my dear? yesterday was tough for me without you.how is the petient? Nanyekesa Beans From Zambia.

  14. You have made Thandiwe Banda.

    I Have a passion for these pipo and those who are mentally ill.i have discovered that we spend much of the time feeling sorry for the street kids,Orphan,and old aged pipo which is good,but of late i realised that I have nothing to these pipo,these pipo needs our support as well.Lets not stigmatize them they are also part of us.Thandiwe Banda keep it up.

  15. muletashafye kwati ewalembele speech,kanshi it was just written by someone else. we want her ideas, not only to dwell on other peoples ideas.

  16. epileptic people always need support from both family and society and we surely have to change our attitude towardes epileptic people and also consider them in a way.they are human beings and deserve a good life just like everyone else.people with ental problems also need the people around them some of them its just coz of problems that they end up like that so with the love n support of others they can definately pull through and look at life nore positively.

  17. THANDIE!!! you are coming up so well pliz dont miss the right step that you have taken just keep it up and face issues head on as they come.we support yah…

  18. Good comments for the lady coming from bloggers. Im happy a few of us can look at something positively. Naya mukuchilisha ni pa Saturday. Fendela fenduza ilelolela

  19. Why is it that first ladies in our country make a lot of noise!!!? I never saw Zanele Mbeki or Hilary Clinton even Mama Kikwete going around like social workers in the country. What is this all about? For me it is not their duty to address such issues. One should never uplift her fame by talking about issues to the media that affect zambians in general. There are many people doing good for the poor in the country but their names are never mentioned in the news papers. Is it a norm for one to be making noise everywhere by dirtening the news papers? personally I do not agree with this kind of attitude; it is mainly done in some underdeveloped countries like Zambia!!!

  20. There are more important issues facing Zambia that need to be addressed to, urgently. Yes, chipumputu is a problem but is this the real problem facing majority of Zambians?

    Resources are always a scarce commodity and, therefore, should always be employed where the pay out is greatest.Thandiwe, you would do beter if yuo spent more time with nyama soya to begin to address those promises he made to the Zambians when running for presidency.

    Infact, you were together with your husband whilst promising Zambians in Chipata that fuel and mealie meal prices would come down, fertilizer prices had already come down to 50 pin and all that nonsense. Zambians are still waiting when these.

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