Chifundo Epilepsy Foundation Conducts Outreach Clinic to Provide Free Medication to Cyclone-Affected Patients in Chikwawa

Malawi: In an effort to reach out to people living with epilepsy who missed treatment due to Tropical Cyclone Ana, which destroyed parts of the Shire Valley district of Chikwawa early this year, the Chifundo Epilepsy Foundation conducted an outreach clinic on January 14, 2022, writes Comfort Bulangete.

The clinic aimed at delivering free medication to patients in the Chikwawa district who were unable to access treatment earlier this year.

According to Petro, the foundation plans to conduct more awareness campaigns so that people have in-depth knowledge about caring for people living with epilepsy as well as respecting their rights in order to reduce the stigma associated with the condition.

Hastings Tebulo, one of the survivors of the disaster and an epilepsy patient from Sadulo village in Chikwawa, thanked the Chifundo Epilepsy Foundation through the District Health Office for making sure that there was the availability of epilepsy medication at their doorstep.

He cited that since the cyclone happened, it has been very difficult for them to access the medication at the district hospital, and poor road networks as a result of the tropical cyclone Ana made it difficult for them to access medical help at the district hospital in time.

On his part, GVH Sadulo of Chikwawa said it is not the duty of the council or the government only to make sure that all survivors of the storm including epilepsy patients are well taken care of by among others providing them with all needed relief, but it is also the duty of the non-governmental organizations to take part in supporting these people if Malawi is to develop.

Chifundo Epilepsy Foundation is a small charitable organization working on fighting seizures and the stigma associated with epilepsy.

They have a centre for assessment, treatment, advising, and enhancing learning support programs for epilepsy patients by a team of professionals.