SITHOBELWENI – The community of SIthobelweni is the most recent to be capacitated by the Epilepsy Organisation on neuorological conditions. The Epilepsy Organisation, together with Autism Eswatini visited Sithobelweni as part of a campaign to ensure that all Emaswati know how to work with people with neurological conditions including autism and epilepsy.
Speaking to the media during the training, Epilepsy Organisation Acting President Dambuza Ntshalintshali said “Eswatini coopereated with the United Nations and passed a resolution on how to handle neurological conditions. The resolution has five objectives and we have especially focused on the 5th objective which states that there should be a strengthening of programmes to help with epilepsy across the world.”
He added that “the Kingdom of Eswatini was then elected to be a trendsetter in Africa together with South Africa, Mauritius, and Kenya. In our mandate as sent by Eswatini and now the whole of Africa, what we’re doing is that we’re having conversations with Sithobelweni Health Centre.” Ntshalintshali revealed that these conversations with all the stakeholders from parents, to teachers and guidance councillors were to consolidate the next phase of development for the neurological health condition programmes.
The Director for Autism Eswatini, Tryphinah Mvubu, also commented on the need for more civic education about neurological conditions. “What we have seen is that knowledge is still needed. We were happy to work with social workers, nurses, consellors, as well as the teachers who were present – especially with community members. It helped us a lot in evaluating the need in the community, as well as getting more information about the challenges that are faced by people with neurological conditions,” remarked Mvubu.
The Eswatini Epilepsy Organisation plans to continue with this outreach programme to other communities in the country.
