As part of activities to mark this year’s World Epilepsy Awareness Day, the Child and Adolescent Unit, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Benin City on Wednesday the 29^th of March held a seminar on psychosocial implications of childhood epilepsy.

Epilepsy awareness day also known as purple day is celebrated annually on the 26^th of March, as an international grassroots effort dedicated to increasing awareness about epilepsy worldwide. The hospital in collaboration with Micro Nova Pharmaceutical limited, Sun Pharma Limited and Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Edo State celebrated this day on Wednesday the 29^th of March 2023 by organizing a seminar for health workers in the Hospital and various health facilities in Benin City.

The Host and Chief Medical Director, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Benin City, Dr. Imafidon Agbonile, represented by the Head of Clinical Services, Dr. Joyce Omoaregba, in his welcome address, reiterated the importance of destigmatising epilepsy and avoidance of discrimination against persons living with epilepsy.

Speaker at the event, Chief Consultant Psychiatrist, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Benin City, Dr. Ehi Isa, enjoined all humanity to support children and adolescents with epilepsy by improving access to epilepsy care. She noted that Epilepsy is a neurological disorder affecting as many as 50 million people worldwide and that this condition is treatable. She also dispelled the myths surrounding the condition.   

Also delivering a keynote speech, Dr. Archibong Atim, a Consultant Psychiatrist with the Child and Adolescent Unit of the hospital, spoke on the psychosocial implications of Epilepsy and the importance of stepping up against stigma of epilepsy.

Some of the medical practitioners present at the event shared their views on the importance of the seminar while thanking the hospital management for the enlightenment programme and prayed for many such seminars in future.