Epilepsy is a condition that has not received much attention in the past, but recent data has demonstrated without question, that this neurological condition is increasing at an alarming rate. Eswatini is not immune to this condition as the latest data analysis show that 11.22 per 1000 people in the country live with epilepsy. According to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) report (2013), the annual mortality rate per 100,000 people from epilepsy in Eswatini has increased by 52.2% since 1990, an average of 2.3% a year. In 2013, the annual mortality rate was 8.3 per 100, 000 people. The annual years of healthy life lost per 100,000 people from epilepsy in Eswatini has increased by 44.5% since 1990, an average of 1.9% a year.
For men, the deadliness of epilepsy in Eswatini peaks at age 80+. It kills men at the lowest rate at age 10-14. At 83.3 deaths per 100,000 men in 2013, the peak mortality rate for men was higher than that of women, which was 42.2 per 100,000 women. Women are killed at the highest rate from epilepsy in Eswatini at age 80+. It was least deadly to women at age 10-14.
For men, the health burden of epilepsy in Eswatini, as measured in years of healthy life lost per 100,000 men, peaks at age 35-39. It harms men at the lowest rate at age 10-14. At 1,127.2 years of healthy life lost per 100,000 men in 2013, the peak rate for men was higher than that of women, which was 752.9 per 100,000 women. Women are harmed at the highest rate from epilepsy in Eswatini at age 25-29. It was least harmful to women at age 10-14.
Eswatini faces inadequate numbers of specialized caregivers to conditions such as epilepsy. This becomes a challenge in the fight against epilepsy for the reason that if people do not get specialized care chances are, they would be vulnerable to conditions that could endanger their lives. This is a concern we cannot ignore and one that directly impacts the lives of those afflicted with epilepsy.
Three free antiepileptic drugs are issued in Eswatini: sodium valproate, carbamazepine and phenobarbitone. These are good drugs however there are some problems with these medications: Sodium valproate can increase the risk of birth defects; carbamazepine makes absence and myoclonic epilepsy worse; phenobarbitone can make absence epilepsy worse. The idiosyncrasies of these drugs are not well known to prescribing clinicians in Eswatini.
Epilepsy patients in Eswatini have endured a year-long of shortage of medication in all of the country’s public hospitals. The Ministry of Health acknowledged the problem and has also declared that it is beyond its control. The ministry issued a statement where it urged people to continue using the substitute medications that they are given by doctors in the meantime, even though they did not state where the actual problem was with the procurement of the medication.
It is of paramount importance that these concerns are addressed so that people living with epilepsy in Eswatini get the right treatment. Our society still need to be educated about epilepsy and on how best we could live harmoniously regardless of the condition. Formation of epilepsy groups should be emphasized in our communities. These support groups should be avenues for workshops organized strictly for educating parents and guardians of children living with epilepsy. There is a great need to intensify educational campaigns about epilepsy from the grassroots, which may include schools.
