In order to fulfil the mandate of its vision and objectives, EEO prepared its action plan based on its five year Strategic Plan which will direct its work and improve its program efficiency. EEO’s budget will be dependent on sustainable projects and the government subvention it receives, so it will be imperative that it optimizes all three financial resources allocated to it in a cost effective and well prioritized manner of approach.
EEO will achieve its strategic objectives by strengthening financial control systems, developing a well-trained and professional team that is of high integrity, transparent, committed and accountable. The implementation of the Annual Action Plan (AAP) will require innovativeness, commitment and team work among the SEO Board and management as well as stakeholder such as government ministries and private sector whose cooperation and reciprocity is critical.
The AAP will focus on five key strategic objectives cascaded down to strategic areas, activities, and deliverables form the basis of evaluating the attainment of key objectives. The key strategic objectives are classified as follows:
“(1) strengthen effective leadership and governance, for policies on general health, mental health and non-communicable disease that include consideration of the specific needs of people with epilepsy…., (5) ensure public awareness of and education about epilepsy in order to help reduce the misconception, stigmatization and discrimination regarding people with epilepsy…” [WHO Resolution 68.20 – The Global Burden of Epilepsy (2015)]
In line with its vision and mission statement, EEO strives to promote public and professional education about epilepsy and disability thereby raising awareness and militating against stigma and discrimination. In carrying out this mandate the Organization seeks to identify the needs and challenges of people living with epilepsy and affected by the condition. EEO’s objective is to develop strategies of addressing such needs by advocating for improved services, lobbying for the rights of people with epilepsy in the work place, and lobbying for a National Policy for people with epilepsy.
For Advocacy, EEO hosts workshops for key stakeholders such as parliamentarian, and other key stakeholders in the both the public and private sector. For Awareness, EEO continues to use the traditional media such as TV and radio to promote raise awareness about the condition. The organization also published weekly articles and has also strengthened its social media usage to engage more people. EEO also does outreach activities, to schools, workplaces, communities and join other organizations during awareness campaigns.
“(4) Support the establishment and implementation of strategies for epilepsy management of epilepsy, particularly to improve accessibility to and promote affordability of safe, effective and quality-assured anti epilepsy medicines...” [WHO Resolution 68.20 – The Global Burden of Epilepsy (2015)]
EEO largely depends on a government subvention to undertake all the activities in the organization’s action plan, it has however had to scale up its resource mobilization activities as more funds are needed to address epilepsy challenges. The organization then has to supplement the subvention with donations coming from the various stakeholders. EEO embarks on a robust performance management system results in high productivity from all stakeholders concerned, in order to effectively mobilize resources and effectively manage them in line with the organization’s strategic plan.
By optimizing resources management and aligning the work plan activities to budgeting and promoting a culture of performance improvement, the organization projects a better income return from its fundraising campaigns and income generating projects. Currently the organization is involved in agri-business, poultry, dairy and goats rearing projects which it intends to upscale during the upcoming years.
The organization continues to use fundraising strategies as means of mobilizing resources. The strategies or events lined up are the annual Yellow Golf Tournament, Yellow Valentine’s Day Dinner, Yellow Mother’s Day Dinner and the Epilepsy Marathon. Other interventions are undertaken as when an opportunity presents itself.
EEO continues to solicit new or potential donors both locally and internationally in its drive to secure resources.
“(2) introduce and implement, where necessary and in accordance with international human rights norms and standards, national health care plans of action for epilepsy management, aiming to overcome inequalities and inequities in health, social and other related services, paying special attention to people with epilepsy… (3) Integrate
epilepsy management, including health and social care, particularly community based services, within the context of universal health coverage, including community based rehabilitation …. (4) Support the establishment and implementation of strategies for the management of epilepsy…. (6) Promote action to prevent causes of epilepsy, using evidence based interventions”… [WHO Resolution 68.20 – The Global Burden of Epilepsy (2015)]
EEO engages with Rural Health Care Motivators (Bagcugcuteli) in order to capacitate them on epilepsy and related disabilities to strengthen epilepsy management in local communities especially those distant from health facilities. Rural Health Care Motivators are often times the first responders in rural communities hence the need to be capacitated to again strengthen the community based rehabilitation in order to give them epilepsy first aid and assist in the early diagnosis of epilepsy. The organization partners with many institutions to host the training workshops in local communities with partners such as DPM’s Social Welfare Department, Ministry of Health and CSO’s.
EEO also engages experts/specialists to deal with epilepsy diagnosis and its management in the field of neurology through the assistance of strategic partners. The organization intends to upscale and maintain an intensive volunteer social support program and conduct a skills audit amongst our staff and support groups with a view of identifying training needs and fill those gaps through:“(2) introduce and implement, where necessary and in accordance with international human rights norms and standards, national health care plans of action for epilepsy management, aiming to overcome inequalities and inequities in health, social and other related services, paying special attention to people with epilepsy… (3) Integrate epilepsy management, including health and social care, particularly community based services, within the context of universal health coverage, including community based rehabilitation …. (4) Support the establishment and implementation of strategies for the management of epilepsy…. (6) Promote action to prevent causes of epilepsy, using evidence based interventions”… [WHO Resolution 68.20 – The Global Burden of Epilepsy (2015)]
The organization continues to provide frail care services to people with epilepsy. Amongst the activities the organization wishes to undertake is procurement of medical equipment through the engagement of stakeholders that have the capacity to assist the organization in this regard. The medical equipment target is the EEG and MRI scan. Due to the nature of this different equipment, it is imperative for the organization to also seek experts who can maintain and operate machine and interpret the results there after.
The organization will endeavor to improve its international relations in order to facilitate a referral management of clients’ too South Africa for consultation or diagnosis and treatment.
During the financial year the organization will lobby for the development of an epilepsy center whose plans are at an advanced stage.
“(2) introduce and implement, where necessary and in accordance with international human rights norms and standards, national health care plans of action for epilepsy management, aiming to overcome inequalities and inequities in health, social and other related services, paying special attention to people with epilepsy… (3) Integrate epilepsy management, including health and social care, particularly community based services, within the context of universal health coverage, including community based rehabilitation …. (4) Support the establishment and implementation of strategies for the management of epilepsy…. (6) Promote action to prevent causes of epilepsy, using evidence based interventions” … [WHO Resolution 68.20 – The Global Burden of Epilepsy (2015)]
EEO is on a mission to construct a state of the art Sikhuphe Epilepsy Centre, which will serve as the organization’s headquarters and a home for all people living with epilepsy. The organization has purchased a 3 hector piece of land for the project at Sikhuphe in the Lubombo Region. This centre will serve a number of purposes;
The organization aims to construct this centre in 3 phases: Phase 1 (already in motion) is to build the organizations offices, moving the office to the community closer to the people it serves. Phase 2, construction of the clinic and rehabilitation centre, this facility will solely focus on epilepsy and related disabilities, hence with support from our various partners EEO hopes to offer a wide range of services, which will include diagnosis, treatment, specialist and many more. The 3rd phase of the project will see the economic hub for persons living with epielepsy, where they will sell any products they produce, such as handicrafts, their farming produce or art as this centre is only 5KM away from the King Mswati III International Airport.
Even though the project is already underway, more funds and material support is needed in order to see this dream come to fruition.
“(2) introduce and implement, where necessary and in accordance with international human rights norms and standards, national health care plans of action for epilepsy management, aiming to overcome inequalities and inequities in health, social and other related services, paying special attention to people with epilepsy… (3) Integrate epilepsy management, including health and social care, particularly community based services, within the context of universal health coverage, including community based rehabilitation …. (4) Support the establishment and implementation of strategies for the management of epilepsy…. (6) Promote action to prevent causes of epilepsy, using evidence based interventions… (7) Improve investment in epilepsy research and increase research capacity” … [WHO Resolution 68.20 – The Global Burden of Epilepsy (2015)]
EEO also conducts research, where it goes to communities to assess the prevalence of epilepsy, the knowledge gap and to assess the health, economic and social life of persons living with epilepsy in the Kingdom of Eswatini. This assists EEO is informing the organization of the gaps that need to be addressed and how to address them.
The organization also conducts Monitoring & Evaluation to assess if it projects/ programs do make a difference in the lives of people living with epilepsy.
“(2) introduce and implement, where necessary and in accordance with international human rights norms and standards, national health care plans of action for epilepsy management, aiming to overcome inequalities and inequities in health, social and other related services, paying special attention to people with epilepsy… (3) Integrate epilepsy management, including health and social care, particularly community based services, within the context of universal health coverage, including community based rehabilitation …. (4) Support the establishment and implementation of strategies for the management of epilepsy…. (6) Promote action to prevent causes of epilepsy, using evidence based interventions” … [WHO Resolution
In order to address the health, economic and social burden of epilepsy in the Kingdom of Eswatini, EEO has to also be strengthened as an organization to carry out its programs and projects to fulfil its mandate. EEO continually reviews and aligns its policies, strategy and goals with local, regional, and international laws, policies, treaties, resolutions and agreements.
There are risks inherent in the implementation of the AAP hence mitigation measures will be taken and contingent action plans drawn up to prevent any possible threat to the attainment of set objectives and targets. A risk register is kept by the organization and managed through the recommended risk management process identified during the strategic plan process which includes amongst other things:
EEO strengthen the Maintaining and Evaluation function by providing the necessary training resources to its staff especially in the area of reporting such that reports made should coincide with the budget cycles. The board meet regularly under its chairman to discuss and coordinate the implementation of the AAP.
