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NSC leads groundbreaking push for epilepsy awareness in Sport
…Epilepsy Foundation of Guyana welcomes collaboration
(Kaieteur News) – The National Sports Commission (NSC), in collaboration with the Epilepsy Foundation of Guyana, on Wednesday hosted a groundbreaking workshop aimed at increasing awareness and improving the management of epilepsy within the sporting environment.
Held at the National Racquet Centre in Georgetown, the session focused on “Epilepsy in Sport – Awareness and Management” and brought together sports administrators, coaches, and athletes from various national associations.
The initiative forms part of the NSC and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports’ broader push toward inclusivity and athlete welfare beyond competition.
The workshop was facilitated by EFG executive, Dr. Mallika Mootoo along with Dr. Alex Persaud, one of only three neurologists in Guyana and a specialist attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
The NSC and EFG hosted Guyana’s first workshop on Epilepsy in Sports.
Participants were guided through medical facts, practical response strategies, and long-term management considerations for athletes living with epilepsy.
Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, described the workshop as both historic and purposeful, emphasising that the NSC’s vision for sport extends beyond medals and matches.
“And it shows that we are moving in the right direction, as Honourable Minister Charles Ramson Jr would’ve said this is the year of openings,” Ninvalle said.
He added, “And I think when he said that, it led our minds to thinks that he was only talking about infrastructure, but actually, we’re opening minds also, and this is part and parcel of what we would like to do, and what we will continue to do at the NSC.”
Ninvalle also revealed that the engagement with the Epilepsy Foundation is only the beginning.
He noted that following preliminary discussions, the NSC has started conversations with the Physiotherapy Department of the Ministry of Health to host similar workshops, as part of a broader effort to strengthen safeguarding systems and provide proper care for everyone involved in sport at the highest level.
Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle delivering opening remarks at the first EFG Workshop for Epilepsy in Sports.
Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, labeled the workshop as both timely and necessary for the local sporting landscape.
She underscored that the Olympic movement has long promoted sport as a tool for unity and human development, and that this promise can only be fulfilled when access is truly inclusive, including for athletes living with neurological conditions such as epilepsy.
“Research has consistently shown that when communities are educated, stigma is reduced, participation increases, and individuals has the power to reach their full potential; sport is no exception,” the GOA Secretary General noted.
The workshop also formed a key part of the Epilepsy Foundation of Guyana’s week of activities designed to raise national awareness about the condition. Activities will culminate with a public awareness walk on Saturday from 6:00 am.
As the first workshop of its kind in Guyana to specifically address the intersection of epilepsy and sport, the session tackled a topic experts say has long been overlooked despite its significance.
Representatives of the Epilepsy Foundation expressed confidence that the initiative will benefit the local sporting fraternity by dispelling myths, reducing fear, and equipping participants with practical, life-saving knowledge.
Epilepsy remains widely misunderstood, and athletes living with the condition often face stigma and uncertainty about whether they can safely participate in physical activity. However, research consistently shows that with proper medical management and informed support, individuals with epilepsy can safely engage in sport.
Key topics covered included understanding the nature of epilepsy, recognizing different seizure types and symptoms, administering appropriate first aid during a seizure, and managing the condition over the long term within a structured sporting environment.
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