In Kenya, HIV/AIDS drugs are free, Tuberculosis treatment is free, and epilepsy care is still out of the reach of thousands of Kenyans who are living with the condition that can be managed. It is our turn to speak and our voices heard.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 50 million people in the world have epilepsy with around 40 million living in developing countries, 90% of whom do not receive appropriate treatment. In Kenya, epilepsy is not recognized as a public health priority. Budgets allocated to health may be low yet these resources are inevitably prioritized for conditions perceived to be more important than epilepsy while if people with epilepsy could get treatment, they are capable of being productive citizens. Lack of access to anti-epileptic drugs, mainly due to economic constraints, is one major obstacle to the care of people with epilepsy.

The anti-epileptic drugs control the seizures and without them, people with epilepsy are rendered 'unfit', leading to stigma. Youth with epilepsy develop self-esteem issues because they can not keep up with their peers and drop out of school or are denied the chance to go to school by family members due to the uncontrolled seizures.

Youth with epilepsy have manually collected 6,552 signatures in slums, buses, schools, churches and from passersby for the voice of people with epilepsy to be heard.  You have the chance to lend your support now.

Write to Parliament today and ask them to facilitate affordable health care for people with epilepsy.