PAROISSE NOTRE DAME DE FATIMA DE NIORO DU SAHEL

B.P 8

NIORO DU SAHEL

MALI

Tel: +223 21 54 07 34/+223 95 35 82 84

Report about the drugs received for epileptic patients of Nioro du Sahel

1. Some information about patients and drugs        

1.1 Positive aspect

It is with gladness that I come to you and all the members of the AMAP to give you some information about the drugs received and how the patients are doing.

Actually, we have observed that about 96% of the patients come regularly to get their drugs and they respond well to the treatment. They follow the advice of the doctors on taking regularly the drugs, on respecting the prescribed dosages and on coming for medical check-up whenever they realise that they are having epileptic seizures in spite of the drugs they are taking. Every time they come to collect drugs, they tell us how their health condition is.

Among our patients, two women were abandoned by their husbands because they realised that they are suffering from epilepsy. Despite this deception these two women’s health is stable; thanks to the drugs they are taking regularly. As at now they are selling onions, tomatoes and sweet potatoes at the market. With this work they are able to fend for themselves. One of our patients Mamadou Tirera got his seventh child (a baby boy). Tunko Traore’s wife ran away last year. His Uncle found another woman for him and she gave birth in November last year (a baby girl). Almost all of them are living normal lives. They rarely experience epileptic seizures. They take their animals for grazing, they work in the fields, do household chores and take care of their families. Seeing them, living normal lives like everyone else, gives us a lot of satisfaction and joy.

1.2 The less positive aspect

1.2.1 The supposed effects of the moon on the patients

During the consultation, five patients expressed themselves saying that the drugs are doing them a lot of good. Their condition is stable and they are able to lead a normal life. Nevertheless, they argued that when the moon comes out, even though they have taken drugs, the epileptic seizure comes. They said that it is a must to have the seizures when moon shines. Whenever the moon is shining they experience the seizure up to 2 or three times per day. But once the moon goes down, they become well again. I asked the Doctors here about this phenomenon and all of them said that they don’t have any explanation for that. Hence, we just encourage them to take the drugs as prescribed despite the sporadic seizure related to the effects of the moon.

1.2.2 The emigrating and irregular patients

 These are patients coming from nomadic families. When food for animals is scarce in villages they move to other areas in search of pasture. Due to long distances, some of them don’t come to get drugs regularly. At times it happens that the drugs are finished and they don’t come to get. It is when they see that situation of the patient has become critical that you see them. When we look at the patient in a pitiful situation, we feel compelled to give them drugs and we warn them to be serious about the issue and we tell them that next time we won’t give them.  As for some irregular patients, who live in Nioro town and yet they don’t come to get drugs regularly and don’t even come for meetings; we are obliged to stop giving them drugs.  

1.2.3 Increasing number of patients

 The number of patients who come to ask for help in terms of drugs in this area continues shooting up. Some of them come from very far villages (villages situated at 150km from Nioro). After talking to them and analysing their situation and taking into consideration the big number of patients we are having on the list, we tell them that we are sorry we are no longer taking new patients on the list. It is challenging but there is no other way of dealing with this issue of increasing number of patients. It’s a pity the government does nothing to help them.

1.3 Projection for the year 2019 on the number of patients

It has come to our attention that some few patients come from well to do families. And their families could easily afford to buy them drugs regularly from drug stores. During this year we intend to talk to them and stop giving them drugs. Thus, we would be able to help very poor people coming from distant villages.

1.4 Quantity of the drugs remaining

After carrying out stocktaking of the drugs that you sent us recently, we noted that we are remaining with 7000 tablets of carbamazepine 200mg. This quantity of drugs remaining, we could serve patients for about five months. When the drugs are about to finish we would let you know.

2. LIST OF EPILEPTIC PATIENTS 2018 – 2019
NIORO—MALI  AFRICA

In conclusion, I would like to say many thanks to you and to all AMAP members for the inestimable help you are giving these people of Nioro du Sahel. They are able to live a normal life like everyone else because of your kind help. May God continue blessing each and every one of you.

Fr. Alick Mwamba

                                                                                                   16/01/2019

me in white shirt with patients