News Stories

News

July 2016: The Gambia Epilepsy Association needs to raise £50,000 in 2016 to buy a compound in Serrekunda which they can make into a permanent base for all their work. Their current base is being rented and shared with a church and is limited to two rooms.

With very little funding from the Government all the money currently raised is going into rent costs instead of medical services and medications for patients. There is also a lack of space to provide all the services required by its 500+ membership. With a compound there would be six or seven separate  buildings which could provide:

A mini bus is also required by the Gambia Epilepsy Association to bring members to the headquarters or take medications out to them. People living in rural parts of the country can currently spend eight hours walking in hot conditions to come to get their prescriptions in Serrekunda!

July 2016: There is a lack of medical equipment and neurological staff in the Gambia. Along with no neurologists and no EEG machines in the entire country there is also a lack of understanding of the condition resulting in many people losing their jobs, being expelled from school or being disowned by families.  I have negotiated with Prof Amadou Gallo Diop, who is both a neurologist in Senegal and the African Commissioner for the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE). With funding he says he would be able to provide a neurologist 5 days a week to neighbouring Gambia along with a portable EEG machine. In his role as African Commissioner for the ILAE he would also like to launch an epilepsy education programme across Africa and use Gambia as a starting point.

June 2016: The 4th East Mediterranean Epilepsy Congress is due to be held in Luxor, Egypt on 16th - 18th February 2017 

June 2016: The 3rd African Epilepsy Congress is due to be held in Dakar, Senegal on 5th - 7th May 2017.

19/03/10: News of Epilepsy Torture in Zimbabwe

The following stories provide vivid details of how the 19 year old son of a Senior
Intelligence Officer in Zimbabwe was tortured by his father due to his epilepsy. The torment lasted for three days and the victim was lucky to survive. The attachments give details of the father's confession, the son's physical & psychological experience and what further action may be taken.

04/03/10: African Prince from Swaziland Attends and Epilepsy Congress
The 2nd East Mediterranean Congress in Dubai was honoured to welcome His Royal Highness Prince Bandzile of the Kingdom of Swaziland as a delegate and Patron of the Swaziland Epilepsy Association. See the attachment for the full text of his address.

http://www.ibe-epilepsy.org/news/african-prince-attends-dubai-congress

12/06/09: Gambian Epilepsy Association Headquarters Vandalised
The Gambia Epilepsy Association found in June 2009 that their offices had been looted with all cabinets and furniture turned upside, documents scattered everywhere and the computer destroyed. They are now in temporary accommodation and desperately looking for safer and more secure offices which they can afford. If anyone can help please contact Philip Chiga of the Gambia Epilepsy Association at gambiaepilepsy@yahoo.co.uk or Tanya Spensley of Epilepsy Footprint at tspensley@epilepsyfootprint.com.

13/04/09: First African Epilepsy Conference in Zambia
An Epilepsy and Stigma Conference, held in Lusaka in April 2009, was an initiative of the Epilepsy Association of Zambia was the first of it's kind in Africa. Many speakers attended from various countries and it is hoped that this will now be a regular bi-annual event in Africa. http://www.ibe-epilepsy.org/regions/addressing-stigma-in-africa-conference-organised-by-the-epilepsy-association-of-zambia