Health experts have urged greater public awareness and improved access to treatment for epilepsy, citing widespread misconceptions and stigma that hinder diagnosis and care. The call came during interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday. Dr Lakadir Adebayo, a medical expert at the State House Government Hospital, Ilorin, described epilepsy as a chronic neurological disorder marked by recurrent seizures due to abnormal brain activity. He noted it affects all ages but is more common in young children and older adults. "Many people living with epilepsy can become seizure-free if properly diagnosed and treated. Yet nearly three-quarters of people with epilepsy in low-income countries do not receive the treatment they need," Adebayo said. He stressed that early diagnosis and access to medication are critical to improving quality of life.
Kenneth Eze, a neurologist at the General Hospital, Suleja, said epilepsy is often wrongly linked to witchcraft or spiritual attacks in African communities, leading families to choose traditional remedies over medical care. "Epilepsy is a medical condition, not a spiritual problem. Early diagnosis, adherence to medication and community support can dramatically improve outcomes," Eze said. He added that patients face discrimination, lost education and employment opportunities, and financial strain from long-term treatment costs. Mrs. Saratu Sani, mother of a child with epilepsy, said her son's first seizure at age six was terrifying and followed by painful misunderstandings from relatives who believed he was cursed. Ibrahim Sani, a young adult with epilepsy, said he lost friends and stopped attending school after a public seizure because people thought the condition was contagious. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that people with epilepsy face up to three times the risk of premature death, especially where treatment is lacking, with preventable causes including falls, burns and prolonged seizures.
Dr Lakadir Adebayo says nearly three-quarters of epilepsy patients in low-income countries get no treatment, yet Nigeria's health system still lacks targeted programs to close this gap. This leaves millions like Ibrahim Sani and Mrs. Saratu Sani's son trapped in cycles of stigma and medical neglect. When public hospitals do not stock consistent supplies of anti-seizure drugs, patients are forced to choose between unaffordable private care and dangerous delays. The medical community's repeated calls for action remain unanswered by policy makers who treat neurological health as secondary.
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