Ada Foah (GAR) Nov. 30, GNA - Mr Lawrence Essuman, Vice President of the Psycho Health Foundation, a mental health oriented NGO, has urged Ghanaians not to shy away from epileptic patients since the disease is not infectious. He said epilepsy was a neurological disease, which happened in the heads of epileptic patients and their foam or saliva could not cause an infection. "There is no way a person can get infected with epilepsy by eating, shaking hands or even touching the saliva or foam of an affected person," he said. Mr Essuman was speaking at an outreach campaign organized by the Foundation at Ada Foah in the Dangbe East District to sensitize the inhabitants on mental health. He cited falling, biting of the tongue and passing of urine or faeces as some of the characteristics of epileptic patients. The rest are becoming stiff and shaky, foaming at the mouth, pale or bluish lips and loss of memory or confusion after an attack. Mr Essuman said about one out of every 100 people in the world were affected by the disease, adding that it was predominant in persons under the age of 30 and also men and people who were mentally retarded. He mentioned bleeding or cancer in the head, high or low levels of salt or sugar in the body, excessive use of alcohol and other illicit drugs, lack of oxygen to the foetus of pregnant women and any tumour on the body as some of the known causes of the disease.

Mr Essuman appealed to people who have ever had an epileptic attack to go for routine checks and always take their drugs. "This is especially important for people who got their first seizure after the age of 30, as their epilepsy is more likely to be caused by any physical illness," he said.

He appealed to corporate organizations to support the Foundation financially to enable it to carry out its activities. Mr Seidu Jinkor, Public Relations Officer of the Foundation, said although the disease was a long term one, it could be controlled. He said epileptic patients could live normal lives, get married and have children as well as work. "The only things they cannot do are to drive, swim alone or work with heavy machinery, in case they have a seizure." Mr Jinkor advised them to always keep notes of dates of seizures, as they would help their doctors to diagnose the right medication and also prescribe the exact dose of drugs.

He advised epileptic patients to rest, sleep and exercise regularly. They should also desist from taking alcohol and avoid extreme physical exercise and situations that could lead to sudden tension or stress. Mr Jinkor advised epileptic patients to inform their doctors anytime they decide to have babies since some of the drugs used in treating the disease could harm unborn babies. "If you feel like having a seizure, lie down on your side and place something soft, such as a folded towel, under your head in order to stop you from harming yourself." He called on Ghanaians to disabuse their minds of the notion that the disease was caused by witchcraft of spirits. The NGO, which is made up mostly of staff from the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, also carried out blood pressure and HIV tests for the inhabitants. 30 Nov. 10