The City of Joburg calls upon its residents to educate themselves on what measures to take to assist those who suffer from epileptic seizures, either at home or in the workplace.
As the world celebrated Epilepsy Day on Monday, 26 March 2018, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development, Dr Mpho Phalatse, said there was a lot of misinformation about epilepsy and that it was important to educate the public about the condition.
The Social Development Department, in partnership with Epilepsy SA, celebrated the event at Orlando Stadium Skills Centre with an initiative marked “Purple Day” as an effort to increase awareness about epilepsy. Attendees included guardians of epileptic patients, as well as epileptic patients dressed in the colour purple. Guests were taken through a presentation on epilepsy that included treatment methods. There was also a motivational talk by epileptic, Tshepo Metsing, who has suffered from the disease since the age of three.
Epilepsy is a neurological condition which affects the nervous system. It is usually diagnosed after a person has had at least two seizures that were not caused by some known medical condition. The condition can be defined as recurrent unprovoked seizures. “Many people in our communities suffer silently from epilepsy. They’re afraid to talk openly because of the stigma that follows. It remains misunderstood with those suffering from the condition living in anxiety in anticipating next fit which may occur sporadically.
MMC Phalatse calls for a culture of care and compassion by society in normalising the illness within our communities, adding that “people do not choose to have epilepsy. Those living with it need all the support they can get.”
Causes of epilepsy vary by age of the person. Some people with no clear cause of epilepsy may have a genetic cause. What's true for every age is that the cause is unknown for about half of the people living with epilepsy.
It is important to follow the below steps when assisting an epileptic individual who has seizures.
What to do:
• Do not panic and do not be afraid.
• Do not insert spoon or any such articles into the mouth.
• Do not restrict convulsive movements as it may cause a fracture.
• Do not try to insert a gag in the mouth, it may cause difficulty in breathing and also hurt the helper’s fingers.
• Do not crowd around the patient.
• Do not give water or any other liquid till s/he is fully consciousness.
These steps are important as they will help stabilize a patient until medical help arrives.
Trained health promoters across the City of Joburg continue to offer educational sessions to communities about epilepsy. The treatment given is initiated at hospital level then the down referred patients are managed and monitored at the clinics. All patients are reviewed by doctors annually or when there’s a need.
Media queries or interview opportunities, please contact:
Lesego Mathibela
Stakeholder Manager
Office of the MMC – Health and Social Development
Tel: (011) 4076725
Mobile: 061 497 8286
E-mail: LesegoMat@joburg.org.za
Or
Dominic Mahlangu
Strategic Advisor
Office of the MMC – Health and Social Development
Tel: (011) 407 6832
Mobile: 081 230 3299
Email: DominicM@joburg.org.za
