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19 June 2006: No 31/06

NATIONAL EPILEPSY WEEK FROM 19 – 25 JUNE 2006

Epilepsy is one of the most common serious neurological conditions. In South Africa 1 in every 100 persons has the disease. Epilepsy is a physical condition characterized by unusual electrical activity in the brain.

It is a symptom of a neurological disorder and shows itself in the form of seizures.

Epilepsy is the tendency to have recurrent, unprovoked seizures caused by a temporary change in the way the brain cells (neurons) work.

It is a disorder not a disease, illness, psychiatric disorder or mental illness, and is not contagious.

Epilepsy can affect all people, both sexes, all ages, all races, people of all levels of intelligence and of all social backgrounds.

EPILEPSY SOUTH AFRICA is a national organisation rendering services to people with epilepsy and other disabilities, as well as all those affected by the condition.

The organisation’s services include:

• Social work and social development services (counselling, advice, information, support groups and community development)
• Economic empowerment services (SMME development, protective workshops, skills development, self-help project development)
• Residential care (rehabilitation, mainstreaming and frail care)
• Advocacy, education, training and awareness.
• EPILEPSY SOUTH AFRICA celebrates National Epilepsy Week from 19 to 25 June 2006, with National Epilepsy Day being celebrated on 21 June 2006.

Throughout this week EPILEPSY SOUTH AFRICA aims to increase awareness about epilepsy in order to redress the stigma and misconceptions attached to this condition.

FIRST AID FOR SEIZURES

When a person has a seizure you can help by:

• Cushioning the person’s head;
• Removing harmful objects from the area;
• Not restricting movement;
• Rolling the person onto his side to aid breathing (recovery position);
• Staying with the person until he has recovered;
• Informing him of what has happened and by being reassuring;
• Not forcing anything into the person’s mouth;
• If repetitive seizures occur without the person regaining consciousness or if the seizure fails to stop after a few minutes, call for medical assistance.

Contact details for Epilepsy SA:
Tel: 0860 EPILEPSY (0860 374537)
Web: www.epilepsy.org.za
E-mail: info@epilepsy.org.za

For further information please contact the Disability Equity Section at Equal Opportunities Chief Directorate: Ms A. Hlabela, tel (012) 355 5283 or Ms A. Snyman, tel (012) 355 5276.