IMAN community-based epilepsy treatment gap intervention model in a rural area in Kano: the Kumbotso experience

Abstract

Background: Epilepsy is a common chronic noncommunicable brain disease affecting all age groups. It is noted with different and debilitating comorbidities, challenges of treatment side effects, poor quality of life (QoL) and even early death in some. More burdensome is the fact that about three in every four individual with epilepsy do not have access to evidence-supported treatment, especially in low income countries. Meeting up with the treatment needs of people living with epilepsy (PLWE) is a worrisome dilemma. This study provided the analysis of a model that bridged the treatment epilepsy gap in a rural treatment center with good epilepsy management plan.

Methods/Results: The paper presented the analysis of the strategic treatment gap measure, practiced by Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN), Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Chapter, Kano-State. The framework is tagged the Kumbotso Model, comprise the giving free antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) to the indigents who are the larger part of PLWE, publication of a handbook titled “111 questions and answers on epilepsy” in Hausa language for education, improving awareness through some Radio/TV programs, the training of patients relations and members of the public on first aid measures for seizures, as well as in economic empowerment to ease the affordability challenge and improve medication adherence and follow-ups.

Conclusion: The Kumbotso model provided a strategic framework for bridging the AEDs treatment gap for PLWE. This marked a revolution in providing more than AEDs by reducing stigma and discrimination against PLWE, changing seizure-associated misconceptions, alleviating related poverty a little and contributing to the sufferers’ improve QoL. It demonstrated further how epilepsy might be better managed in the rural community and advocated for why epilepsy should be integrated into the Primary Health Care Centers services.

Key words: Epilepsy, Treatment gap, Kumbotso Model, IMAN, PLWE.