Facts and Figures
- DDF Project Title
- National Epilepsy Awareness Project
- DDF Fellow Reference Number
- DDF 20
- Partner in The Gambia
- Foundation for Epilepsy & Stigma Support (FESS-Gam)
- Geographical Coverage
- Urban-Rural
- Period
- 2022 – 2023
- DDF Grant
- D300,000
- Cash Contribution
- D23,850
- In-kind Contribution
- D1,065,300
Challenges and Opportunities
In many global south countries including The Gambia, epileptic people are excluded from care, and subject to grave social stigma and discrimination. The solutions to these problems are too complex to be solved by individual organisations. For this reason, Adam’s Foundation for Epilepsy & Stigma Support (FESS-Gam) is advocating for the implementation in The Gambia, of World Health Organisation’s Intersectoral Global Action Plan (IGAP) to improve neurology care and services using epilepsy as an entry point.
Adam Jallow-Janneh (UK)
DDF 20
For Adam Jallow-Janneh, an internationally recognised Epilepsy Advocate, living with seizures and epilepsy is a family affair. She has two family members with the condition. One lives in The Gambia and the other in the United Kingdom. She has seen first-hand how the available level of care can determine quality of life (QOL) outcomes for an epileptic person. The affected family member in the UK is living a fulfilled life. They did not face any stigma or discrimination and were diagnosed and treated at the outset, just like in the case any other sickness. As for the other epileptic in her home country, it is a completely different story. He lost the use of his legs and his speech keeps deteriorating; he has been beaten in the streets; and due to lack of support system, he had to be taken out of school for his own well-being.
‘’No child should be left uneducated because his or her community is uneducated about epilepsy, or any other neurological condition.’’
~ Adam Jallow-Janneh, Project Lead
‘’Epilepsy is a chronic noncommunicable disease of the brain that affects more than 50 million people worldwide. Nearly 80% of people living with epilepsy reside in low-and-middle-income countries, and 75% do not receive the treatment they need…..On the African continent it affects 10 million people directly……Clinical research worldwide continue to reveal that if properly treated up to 70% of people with this condition could live productive and fulfilling lives, free from seizures.’’
~ Adam Jallow-Janneh
About The Project
Adam Jallow-Janneh aims to deploy her experiences and communication skills to share information online and in person, conduct research, develop community outreach programs, build business and client relationships and use technology to bring about the sustainable, transformational and social behavioural change needed to improve the lives of epileptic people in The Gambia.
DDF Results and Impact
- Kickstarted the project with a workshop on “Stigma,” during International epilepsy day celebrations on the 13 February 2023. The event was attended by 29 medical students from across the country, people with epilepsy (PWE) & their caregivers, and media houses.
- Conducted a Training of Trainers (ToT) event on 8 March 2033. The 32 healthcare professionals who participated are now part of a WhatsApp group to facilitate networking and sharing of knowledge acquired from the training sessions.
- Visited 16 schools in Greater Banjul Area and West Coast Region during outreach programmes between 10 and 21 March 2023. Total number of participants exceeded 1,600 students and teachers.
- Held the 1st National Epilepsy Symposium in The Gambia on 13 June 2023. In attendance were representatives from Ministry of Health (MOH), Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), Medical Research Council (MRC), primary healthcare professionals, PWE and media outlets. A total of 35 participants were registered.
- FESS-Gam’s activities have been featured on the national and private television stations, community radios and online media platforms. Such media advocacy amplifies the message and ensures national attention to the cause.
- 20 volunteers joined FESS-Gam, including PWE.
- Carried out Electroencephalogram (EEG) tests for 258 epilepsy patients at the EFSTH epilepsy clinic.
- Launched social media accounts on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn to share information about epilepsy and in local languages too.
- Received a certificate of recognition from the Vice President of The Gambia and the High Commissioner in the UK for FESS-Gam’s outstanding epilepsy work in both countries.
