Purple Point Neuro Diagnostics, Wisconsin International University College Ghana Hold Seizure Training
In a significant initiative to enhance mental health care, Purple Point Neuro Diagnostics, based in the United States, collaborated with Wisconsin International University College Ghana to conduct a specialized training session on seizure recognition and first aid. This event was held in Medina, Accra, on February 10, 2025, in conjunction with World Epilepsy Day.
The training aimed to educate selected herbal practitioners on epilepsy and essential procedures for responding to seizure incidents. Participants received certification upon completing the 90-minute course, which emphasized increasing knowledge, skills, and confidence in recognizing seizures and administering first aid according to best practices.
Lydia Setsoafia, a key figure in the training and head of the emergency unit at Ridge Hospital, highlighted the prevalence of epilepsy in Ghana, noting that about one in ten people are affected by this common neurological disorder. She explained the nature of seizures, which can occur at any age and result from abnormal electrical activity in the brain, leading to uncontrollable movements and loss of consciousness.
Setsoafia outlined several common signs of seizures, including twitching and jerking movements, loss of consciousness, and a blue tinge to the lips. She emphasized the importance of proper first aid techniques during a seizure, instructing participants to protect the patient from injury, stay with them until the seizure ends, and monitor them closely afterward.
The training also addressed the broader public health implications of epilepsy in Africa. With active epilepsy affecting an estimated 4.4 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, it poses significant socio-cultural, psychological, and economic challenges. Purple Point Neuro Diagnostics aims to enhance clinical capacity and access to epilepsy care in Ghana, focusing on childhood epilepsy clinical trials.
The organization has set specific goals, including training epilepsy care teams, developing innovative diagnostic methods for low-resource settings, and mapping the treatment gap for childhood epilepsy in the country.
This collaboration marks a vital step towards improving epilepsy care and raising awareness about this pressing health issue in Ghana.
By: Frank Owusu Obimpeh
