Understanding epilepsy, national epilepsy week

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Although South Africa has ratified international treaties, established various policies and guidelines and recognised the right to non-discrimination based on disability in the Constitution, the rights of people with epilepsy and other disabilities are frequently violated in domestic, community and employment contexts.

The saddening fact is that people with epilepsy mostly experience the effects of stigma and discrimination from people that know about their epilepsy and seizures - therefore people close to them. If you did not know about a person's epilepsy you would treat him/her the same as everybody else? This raises the question: Who has epilepsy? Do you really know?

The main aim of National Epilepsy Week is to raise awareness about epilepsy to dispel the myths, social stigmas and discrimination attached to the condition. People are considered to have less value to their community and are seen as only dependent on welfare. This view, together with a sense of vulnerability when it comes to seizures, places persons with epilepsy at severe risk.

Marina Clarke, national director of Epilepsy South Africa, says, "National Epilepsy Week focuses on educating the public about the rights of people with epilepsy. We decided on this theme to encourage people to question their own attitudes towards people living with epilepsy."

For more information, go to www.epilepsy.org.za.