Geduld Epilepsy Centre aims to education public about illness
Residents who live at the centre have been placed there by the social workers as their families were struggling to take care of them.
The Epilepsy South Africa Centre in Geduld looks after people with epilepsy.
Epilepsy is a condition defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as a neurological disorder marked by sudden recurrent episodes of sensory disturbance, loss of consciousness, or convulsions, associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
There are different types of epilepsy that affect people of all ages and each type has different triggers and treatment plans.
The condition is manageable and with the right treatment each patient can go on to live a successful and productive life.
However, people with severe epilepsy can eventually become disabled as the frequent seizures eventually damage their brain.
That is the case for the people at the centre.
Also read: Ending the stigma of epilepsy
“The misconception people have about the centre is that it’s just people suffering from epilepsy, but that’s not true.
“We assist people with epilepsy and other disabilities.
“A lot of the people who have a disability have it because of severe epilepsy.
“Our residents in the Daggafontein centre have disabilities so bad they cannot take care of themselves, so that’s our frail-care centre,” says public relations officer Maryna de Canha.
The centre has hostels that house about eight people in each one and a kitchen that prepares food for them alongside nurses and social workers who are on site 24 hours a day.
Residents who live at the centre have been placed there by the social workers as their families were struggling to take care of them.
There’s a screening process for each resident because not everyone with epilepsy can be housed.
For example, the centre doesn’t have the facilities to look after someone with epilepsy and severe autism.
“Disabilities vary, but if we know we cannot offer the best care we don’t accept them and we help them find alternative accommodation.
“We’re almost at full capacity with only four beds open and that’s because there’s such a need for places like this.
“We’re in the process of building another hostel, and then we’ll be able to assist another eight people,” says de Canha.
The centre has an age limit of 58 to admit new clients as they are not capable of assisting elderly people.
Also read: Springs attends Epilepsy Purple Day
Besides looking after the residents, the centre’s social workers also do a lot of community work in terms of creating awareness and assisting community members in dealing with epilepsy or if they suffer from epilepsy themselves as well.
There is still a stigma around the illness, but the centre is working hard to eradicate that.
There are a lot of people calling in with medical questions or making an appointment to see the nurse just to come learn more about how they can manage their epilepsy on a day-to-day basis.
The social workers go out into the community on a daily basis and visit people.
Although the centre does receive some funding, they struggle now and then.
They have a workshop which employs some of the residents who pack goods for various companies in Springs and have their own fund-raising efforts.
“We want to include the community in our efforts and not just have them give to us all the time.
“We have a few projects lined up for the future,” says de Canha.
De Canha says people and companies are welcome to make donations, such clothes, food, gardening equipment and paint, to the centre.
Those who wish to make donations to the centre can also arrange with them to be collected.
To make an appointment to see a nurse at the centre or speak to de Canha call 011 811 1590.
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