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File: Epilepsy is often surrounded by prejudice and myth, especially in rural communities where people with this condition are often shunned and thought to be “possessed.”
Over 11 000 epilepsy-related emergencies have been recorded in Gauteng in the past year. The cases were captured at clinics and hospitals around the province.
The information was released at the end of National Epilepsy Week on Tuesday.
Health officials say epilepsy, a chronic brain condition that causes sudden seizures can be controlled with treatment.
People are urged to seek help early and break the silence around seizures.
Gauteng Department of Health manager for Non-Communicable Diseases, Patrick Magodzho says, “In our province, epilepsy services are therefore integrated across the public health system, from your primary health care clinics to your specialized hospital services, and this ensures that access to early diagnosis, the correct medication and treatment, specialist referrals and also ongoing follow up care is provided. Early intervention and adherence to treatment. It remains critical towards improving the health outcomes, especially for those that have been diagnosed with epilepsy.”
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