Parents Of Kids With Epilepsy Decry Expensive Medicine, Plead For Government's Intervention

• Families with children suffering from epilepsy are urging the Ministry of Health to provide assistance with medication
• To begin with, there is always a shortage of the drugs in Kenya and when they are available, the prices are exorbitant
• They indicated that epilepsy is the leading cause of death among children with cerebral palsy, which calls for intervention to save them
• Their primary request is for the government to ensure free access to epilepsy medication, the same approach with ARVs and condoms

Parents of children suffering from epilepsy have come forth to voice their concerns over the cost of medication, which is critical in managing the condition.

In a heartfelt plea to the government, they painted a troubling picture of how such children's lives depend on the medicine.

Epilepsy costs lives, Angira

Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, they complained that the epilepsy tablets are expensive yet the cost continues to rise, draining most parents in these hard economic times.

One of them named Rose Angira disclosed that she spends KSh 3,000 monthly yet her son's case is very mind.

"Epilepsy is the major cause of premature death in children with cerebral palsy, so imagine those whose cases are severe," she said.

Angira added that she is lucky to have a job and a supportive partner who helps out financially, but expressed worry over single mothers who shoulder the burden alone.

Make medication free, like ARVs

According to her, a big number of children with the condition are left under the care of their mothers, most of whom are either unemployed or work menial jobs.

Another parent indicated that apart from the medication being sold at exorbitant prices, there is always shortage of epilepsy meds countrywide.

That makes the situation dire as, sadly, the patients cannot do without the medication at all times.

"We are requesting the ministry of health to provide the meds for free, the same way they do with ARVS and condoms," she pleaded.

Angira's cerebral palsy story

In an earlier interview, Angira noted that severe brain damage during birth caused her son's cerebral palsy.

She stated that she enjoyed a smooth pregnancy that even made it possible for her to climb mount Kilimanjaro in her third month.

However, her excitement came crashing down when the birthing process became complicated as her son Elly suffered severe brain damage.

"His head got stuck. He did not cry, his skin turned blue, and he spent the first week of his life in the intensive care unit on oxygen," she remembered.

At four months old, her son Elly had not smiled, offered no eye contact, his head lacked control, and he suffered epileptic attacks.

She sought the advice of an occupational therapist who broke the painful news that Elly had cerebral palsy (CP).

From denial to suicide thoughts, Rose has risen to become a CP champion, helping other parents with special needs children to cope.