270,000 Ghanaians suffer from epilepsy — Dr Osei

The Executive Director of the Mental Health Authority, Dr Akwasi Osei, has noted that about one per cent of the population equivalent to 270,000 people suffer from epilepsy.

“ This, in real terms, is a huge number and, therefore, needs critical attention in its fight,” he said.

Dr Osei was speaking  to The Mirror during a two-day sensitisation programme organised by ‘Fight Against Epilepsy Initiative Ghana’ which brought together primary healthcare givers to review the progress made in the fight against epilepsy.

He noted that over 70 per cent of people who suffer from epilepsy could be seizure-free after two to five years of treatment.

He, therefore, called on Ghanaians not to hide people who live with the disease.

According to Dr Osei, who is also the Chief Psychiatrist in charge of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, epilepsy is not a contagious disease and people should not stigmatise people who suffer from the disease.

 He noted that the association of the disease to witchcraft or spirituality has made many families to hide people who were infected with the disease and therefore prevented them from receiving treatment.

According to him, epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder and affects people of all ages but is predominantly caused by river blindness, childhood meningitis, poor antenatal care, accidents, among others.

He said epilepsy medicines were supposed to be free since it is part of mental health but there are frequent shortages of these medications.

The Project Coordinator for Fight Against Epilepsy Initiative Ghana, Dr Cynthia Sottie, noted that previously 85 per cent of people living with epilepsy did not receive care, but presently 68.4 per cent could not receive care.

She attributed this challenge to doctor-patient ratio in the mental health sector in Ghana which also catered for epilepsy. 

Dr Sottie noted that presently there were five neurologists and 17 psychiatrists as well as few community psychiatric nurses who specialise in giving care to epileptic patients. 

Fight Against Epilepsy Initiative Ghana was established in 2012 by the Ministry of Health with support from the World Health Organisation.

The initiative is focused on creating more awareness of epilepsy by training community-based non-specialists to handle people who live with epilepsy.