Rwanda: Epilepsy - A Medical Condition That People Associate With Witchcraft

analysis

Epilepsy is a condition that people, especially the illiterate associate with witchcraft. But medical experts say epilepsy is not caused by witchcraft. An example is 20-year-old Justine Uwizeye who suffered her first seizure three years ago. Everyone, including relatives and family friends agreed that she was a victim of witchcraft, so her mother took her to as many traditional healers to get a cure. But the frequent visits to traditional healers did not yield anything until she visited hospital where she was diagnosed with Epilepsy.

Alphonse Majyambere, a psychiatrist at MedPlus Clinic, says most epilepsy patients visit health facilities when the disease has advanced, since many first visit traditional healers thinking it's witch craft.

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