Cameroon – Epilepsy is present in all the ten regions of the country and represents 16% of neurological consultations in adults and 2% of those in children.
Most patients in the country live with the abnormal electrical activity in the brain for years before it even begins to manifest publicly.
Kate, is a young Cameroonian lady, 28 years old who lives in Yaounde, Political Capital of the country. In her two room apartment at the Nkoabang neighbourhood, where we met her for a chat, she gladly narrated her life with the brain disorder to us because she had come to live with it unlike was the case in the beginning when is was first diagnosed.
“I remember how it began, I was in my final year of high school and my class had just won in sports, so we were happily singing, dancing and hugging each other. Later on after we took our bath, it was time for dinner, when I sat down to eat, my teeth started shattering and i couldn’t put the spoon in my mouth. I immediately rushed to the school infirmary and since i could not speak, I just pointed my mouth to the nurses on duty. Not understanding what was going on, one of them just sked me to lie down and after a few minutes, the shattering stopped and I just felt tired” Kate told News Upfront with a smile on her face.
It was a period when they were preparing for their final year Examinations and Kate was diagnosed positive for Epilepsy. Despite spending most of her time between the hospital and the school dormitary, she did not give up as she succeeded to pass her Baccalaureate Examination and enrolled into the University of Yaoundé 1.
“The doctor who was consulting me told me that the brain disorder is gradually coming to normal, but I was shocked that at the University the situation became even worse” Kate said adding that;
“During our first semester Examinations, I wanted to impressed my parents and had to spend late hours reading in the amphteatre. One night, just of a sudden, my left hand started jerking, I tried to control it but discovered it had a life of its own, minutes later the other hand joined and I could no more control my self and I immediately went unconscious only to wake up to discover I was alone in the Amphi”
Kate had just lived her first ever seizure.
Epilepsy is a central nervous system (neurological) disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations, and sometimes loss of awareness.
The challenges were gradually becoming more that Kate could not bear. She saw her future fading away, and her parents started reducing investment on her education to the favour of her junior brother who had just passed her BEPC examination.
She was forced to drop out from school and face the challenges.
“I didn’t have good enough coping skills and the support community around me. I thought I would rather feel save in a jobside but I was again sacked the very day I had my first seizure at work. So I found myself in a space where I constantly ask myself what is happening to me. I lived in denial for a long time because I used to hear that people with Epilepsy will not live on their own, that they were outcasts. The more I thought about my situation, the more my seizures became frequent, but that one is history now for I have come to accept my condition and am living with it happily” Kate struggles to explain (this time in tears).
Epilepsy is considered the world’s most common disorder of the brain, according to the World Health Organisation which reports that it affects some 50 million people worldwide, of which 10 million are in Africa, Cameroon inclusive.
In Cameroon like elswhere, persons living with epilepsy are frequently subjected to social stigma and exclusion, and this contributes greatly to the burden associated with the disorder.
Living with epilepsy can give rise to many challenges, in addition to the medical burden. These include social and psychological stress on the individual and family members, missed educational opportunities, and underemployment or unemployment.
However, efforts for greater community education on epilepsy can have a significant positive impact. Reducing social stigmas and increasing opportunities for individuals is key to improving quality of life for epileptics.
Living with epilepsy in Cameroon
Cameroon faces a number of challenges when it comes to improving the quality of life of those affected by epilepsy.
Lack of comprehensive data on breadth or depth of the problem means the disease is not getting the attention or funding it deserves, and there is no concrete plan of action to address it.
Lack of dedicated funds which leads to poor health facilities; epilepsy patients are not offered assistance under any health care coverage and low awareness and lack of adequate training for medical personnel has lead to a treatment gap, and poor understanding of the disease among health providers.
The high transfer rate of the few skilled medical personnel between different regions creates a lack of continuity in epilepsy case management. A high level of poverty means most families cannot afford medical treatment; families with limited funds will also divert investment away from epileptic children.
The Way Forward
Epilepsy is should be noted affects both children and the elderly and it is even reported that epileptic children have better chances of managing the ailment as they grow.
In Cameroon, there is a project to cater for kids with Epilepsy. The project is known as “We Touch Lives“.
“This project will treat up to 80 children of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Cameroon who are also suffering from epilepsy. WE TOUCH LIVES will pay for the treatment of these children by specialists in Buea and Nkongsamba regional hospitals, support their development/rehabilitation, and support their families.” Declared the project leader, Angeles Mbwoge.
Another initiative dub CAMAAY (the Cameroon Association of Active Youths) is working to change the present brain situation of the disorder in the country.
“We strongly believe that people living with epilepsy are entitled to a quality of life no less than that expected by the majority of Cameroonians. We want to see a nationwide approach, working with and for people with epilepsy, to deliver real and sustainable change.” Disclosed Patrick Chung Ndifon, community development facilitator at CAMAAY during a Sensitisation campaign on living with Epilepsy in Cameroon, that took place in Bamenda.
The Association is running a program for the interest of Epileptic patients in the country especially those in rural areas.
“Through our program, we plan to educate communities in Cameroon’s Northwest region on the realities of living with epilepsy, seizure care and management, treatment options, and opportunities for growth and development. Better information will help epileptics to make informed decisions about their treatment and lifestyle.” Samuel continued.
CAMAAY has resolved work with Cameroonian health institutions to improve service delivery and quality of life for people living with epilepsy. To them there is need to act local but think national to make a difference.
Epilepsy is a highly complex condition in its causes, presentation, and treatment, and requires both medical and non-medical management. The psychosocial, educational, and economic impacts create particular challenges for the delivery of social, community and health services.
Building on principles of social inclusion, CAMAAY aims to foster realistic and creative strategies to ensure that individuals affected receive equitable care and access to services nationwide.
