The National Epilepsy Association of Malawi (NEAM) has emphasized the need to raise public awareness about epilepsy, particularly in rural communities across the country.
Speaking during the commemoration of International Epilepsy Day at Kawale Primary School in Lilongwe, NEAM National Coordinator Chifundo Zamadunga Phiri said Malawi has an estimate of about 400,000 to 500,000 people living with epilepsy, but only 60 to 70 percent of the population is aware of the condition.
“Two or Three people in every ten people don’t know that they are living with epilepsy. The main problem is that people not have adequate information and we as NEAM we do not have resources to reach out to people especially those in rural areas”, She said.
Zamadunga Phiri noted that both the government and the association remain committed to the fight against epilepsy and appealed to development partners to continue supporting awareness campaigns aimed at reducing stigma and misinformation.
She added that the association is intensifying outreach efforts by working with trained personnel such as Teachers, Traditional leaders, and mother groups to reach remote areas of the country.
Meanwhile, Anthony Maliwichi, Unit In-Charge at the Kamuzu Central Hospital Epilepsy Unit has said epilepsy is a treatable condition and urged Malawians living with epilepsy to seek medical treatment at health facilities.
“There are two main types of epilepsy, the generalized epilepsy and partial epilepsy and these two types have treatment, but the challenge is that most people don’t know that there is treatment at the hospital. The thing is when people come to the hospital, we need to examine them and we manage the disease according to the type of epilepsy, but people don’t know more about the disease” he explained.
Maliwichi therefore encourage people living with epilepsy as well as guardians to access medical care in hospitals, saying it can be effectively managed through proper diagnosis and medication.
The International Epilepsy Day is commemorated every Monday of the second week of February and this year, it has been commemorated on 9 February 2026.
The day is a joint initiative of the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the International League against Epilepsy (ILAE) and is celebrated across the globe in the 120 of countries in which IBE and ILAE are represented.
About The Author
