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UG students organise walk to raise public awareness on Epilepsy
By Nicholas Peters
A group of University of Guyana students, this past Sunday, organised a walk to raise
Some of the participants and organisers at the seawall following the Epilepsy Awareness Walk
public awareness for the neurological disease known as epilepsy. The event was part of the commemoration of Epilepsy Awareness Month, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognises as being in November. Participants also remembered those Guyanese who lost their lives as a result of an epileptic episode.
The walk which began at the intersection of Lamaha and Albert Streets, ended with mural painting at the seawall near Pere Street, Kitty, in Georgetown.
The occasion involved members of the University of Guyana’s Medical Students’ Association (UGMSA), the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS) and the Epilepsy Foundation of Guyana (EFG) and their colleagues.
The walk was said to be the first of its kind in Guyana to highlight the issues of epilepsy and epileptic seizures, which are commonly referred to as “fits”.
The idea for the walk was initiated by UG Medicine Student, Christopher France, who was diagnosed with the neurological disease earlier this year. France published an article on the blog “Youth Blogs GY” addressing the issue. The article resulted in support from many readers, both domestically and internationally. Upon seeing the impact of his article, the third-year medicine student decided to dedicate his energies towards bringing awareness to epilepsy throughout the month.
While participants were few, their voices were loud as they marched through the streets of Georgetown chanting “What do we want? To cease epilepsy!” garnering the attention of many passersby as marchers handed out fliers. Most participants wore purple, as it is the official colour of Epilepsy Awareness Month.
At the end of the walk, Thomas Singh, a cofounder of the EFG, announced the formation of his foundation with the aim to provide support for local sufferers of epilepsy. The foundation’s directors include two medical doctors, Dr. Andrea Lambert and Dr. Mallika Mootoo along with the head of the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre, Cynthia Massiah-Thomas, Professional Counselor Daam Barker and Maureen Massiah.
The foundation’s objectives, much like France’s initiative, are to raise awareness, advance medical treatment with regards to epilepsy, and collect data on persons experiencing epileptic episodes in Guyana. The EFG is also looking to collaborate with other agencies to improve/create facilities that are equipped to deal with persons affected by epilepsy.
Singh remarked that as someone who suffered from epileptic seizures, he found it troubling how vastly unaware Guyanese are of the condition. It is for this reason, that Singh is looking forward to collaborate with the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE).
“We have had extensive discussions with Dr. Laura Mantoan and Juliet Solomon, Administrative Director of the UK Chapter of the ILAE, with a view to getting support from them for our efforts in Guyana,” Singh related. Both women are considered experts in the field of neurology.
The event closed off with the commemoration of Guyanese who have died due to epileptic seizures. The group remembered persons like GDF Lance Corporal Darrel Prince, handyman Bashidae Rambissoon and 23 year-old Odessa Fraser, among others.
According to the World Health Organisation, about 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy. Persons are encouraged to email the EFG at [email protected] if they wish to become a member of the foundation’s platform.
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