The Upper West Region recorded 951 new cases of Epilepsy in 2020 while 1,094 cases were recorded last year. This means that there has been a slight increase in the new cases of epilepsy within the region. The Upper West Regional Coordinator for Mental Health, Slyvester Basagnia explained that the rise in numbers could be as a result of increased access by community members to mental health services.
Mr Basagnia explained that currently, an increased number of health facilities within the sub-district structure of the Ghana Health Services now have mental health officers. This he said meant that the Mental Health Unit is now able to engage in more community sensitization to encourage more people to report such cases.
Mr. Basagnia added that when people with Epilepsy report to the various health facilities and their conditions are properly managed by health professionals, they become marketing points for others who have the same conditions or a similar one.
“Much as we are worried about the figure, it is a bit positive we have the numbers now, [health professionals] coming on board to go out there and do the work,” he said.
Mr. Basagnia disclosed that the Regional Medical Stores has not had any drugs for the management of Epilepsy since the last quarter of last year. This means that patients are forced to buy their own medications.
The Upper West Regional, Mental Health Coordinator said the absence of the drugs from the Medical Stores presents a challenge because it serves as a disincentive for persons who are not in the financial position to buy the drugs themselves.
“The last quarter of last year, we run out of stock, and as we speak now if you get to the medical stores, there is nothing at all,” he said.
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The Unit has therefore had to rely on the benevolence of some charity organisations to be able to provide medication for the management of Epilepsy in the region.
Meanwhile, in the Upper East Region, 760 people in 2021 were, for the first time, diagnosed with Epilepsy. This is a reduction from 2020’s figure of 893. 1,758 cases of Epilepsy were detected in the Upper East Region in 2019.
A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
