A Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr. Paul Agabi, has identified inability to afford medications and non-adherence to treatment prescriptions by patients as major challenges facing the management of epilepsy in the country.
Agabi, who works at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Lagos.
He spoke on the sideline of the Annual Scientific Conference organised by the Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba.
The theme of the conference is titled: “Passion and Professional Excellence; A prerequisite for the Nigerian Revolution.”
According to Agabi, epilepsy is very common in Nigeria and data shows that one to two patients per 1,000 do suffer from the disease.
He said: “The major challenge in managing patients with epilepsy is such that they have financial constraints in terms of procuring medications.
“Most times, for even those who can procure the medications, they do not have the zeal to take the medications as prescribed.
“Some of the patients start taking their medications and then stop at a point in time; others go to healing homes, churches, and others for deliverance.
“By the time they come back to the hospital, they are worse than when we saw them initially.”
The consultant called on the government, well-meaning Nigerians and non-governmental organisations to support patients who suffer from the disease by helping with procurement of medications.
Agabi said: “Already, we have some NGOs helping with the procurement of drugs for some of these patients, however, we need more support.
“If some of these patients can get the support that they need, they will adhere to treatment and get better results afterward.”
He said that with adequate medication epilepsy could be put in check, the frequency could be reduced, and sometimes cured.
According to him, the cure of the disease is not a zero chance of not having it, but can be reduced to the barest minimum if managed with adequate medications.
Agabi urged people not to perceive the disease as spiritual but a disease of the brain that required medical attention.
He said: “Many patients are stigmatised, because people do not understand that it is a disease of the brain and can be managed medically.”