While untreated epilepsy can wreak havoc on people of any age, children in under-resourced regions of the world are particularly vulnerable. Poor and delayed recognition of seizures can lead to significant developmental impairments. And the severe stigmatization around epilepsy means that children are frequently taken out of school, limiting their future opportunities. With nearly 50% of Zambia’s population under the age of 15, reaching children with epilepsy is especially important.
Community health workers (CHWs) are instrumental in getting low-cost healthcare to those without previous access. CHWs are equipped, trained and mobilized to provide basic care for many common illnesses. While CHWs are usually not typically equipped to support epilepsy care, the ROW Foundation believes they hold great potential for identifying children in need and connecting them and their caregivers with treatment options.
Through the generosity of a close friend of ROW, we have launched a new partnership with Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) to impact children with epilepsy in Chongwe, Zambia, just east of the capital city of Lusaka. The partnership expands on BCH’s five-year partnership with the University Teaching Hospital of Lusaka. CHWs will reach out to families with children affected by epilepsy and provide support and teaching on how to take medication, seizure precautions and seizure first aid. The partnership will also open up dialogue with community leaders around epilepsy, helping reduce the harmful stigma and improve access to care.
Archana A. Patel, MD, MPH
