Media Releases and Opportunities

Researchers from Dalhousie University are leading an initiative in rural Zambia to address the high prevalence of epilepsy and combat the stigma that affects people living with the condition.

Epilepsy, a brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, affects millions of people worldwide and can be difficult to treat in resource-constrained settings, where access to diagnosis, care, and public awareness is often constrained.

To address that, Dalhousie researchers partnered with Zambian health-care professionals to establish the Mfuwe Epilepsy Foundation to enhance epilepsy care in areas with limited health infrastructure. Named after Mfuwe -- a region with some of the highest epilepsy rates in Africa -- the foundation aims to improve patient outcomes and empower the local community through culturally informed approaches in an area where widespread misconceptions about the condition often discourage individuals from seeking treatment.

The foundation collaborates with local and international experts to aid local health workers in diagnostics, expand access to anti-seizure medications and educate patients and their families on effective seizure management. The research focuses on developing new diagnostic tools for epilepsy care in rural communities.

Dr. Alon Friedman, the Dennis Chair in Epilepsy Research at Dalhousie and lead on the Mfuwe initiative, is available to discuss the project and how it will foster a more inclusive environment for individuals living with epilepsy, which is being marked next week on International Epilepsy Day (Feb. 10, 2025).

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Media contact:

Alison Auld
Senior Research Reporter
Dalhousie University
Cell: 1-902-220-0491
Email: alison.auld@dal.ca