Monrovia – Public health advocate and Executive Director of Help Minimize Epilepsy in Liberia (HMEL), Edmund C. Gbarwee, is calling for a compassionate national conversation on epilepsy, warning that long-held myths and deepening stigma continue to trap thousands of Liberian families in silence, poverty, and avoidable suffering.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh
For many Liberians living with epilepsy, the greatest struggle is not the medical condition itself, but the fear, shame, and misinformation that surround it. In several communities, epilepsy is still linked to curses, witchcraft, or spiritual punishment—beliefs that force families to hide their loved ones or pursue dangerous traditional remedies.
“Over the years, students with epilepsy have been withdrawn from school because of stigma. The pain is just too much,” Gbarwee said.
He recounted the case of a young man in Nimba County who lost his job due to his condition and now sits at home, unable to support his family. “This is not unique to this brother in Nimba,” he noted. “We receive similar reports daily from every corner of Liberia.”
These stories, Gbarwee stressed, reflect the human cost of ignorance.
“Behind every myth is a real person who deserves dignity,” he said. “The pain is not just the seizure. The real pain comes from rejection, shame, and losing opportunities because society does not understand epilepsy.”
Stigma Driving Families Further Into Poverty
Gbarwee explained that epilepsy-related discrimination pushes many families into deeper poverty. Some parents spend significant amounts of money on ineffective traditional practices due to a lack of accurate medical information. Others keep their children at home to avoid ridicule. Many adults with epilepsy are unable to find or retain jobs.
“No one becomes poor because of epilepsy,” he emphasized. “People become poor because society misunderstands epilepsy.”
He believes that ending stigma could unlock opportunities in education, employment, and economic empowerment for thousands of Liberians.
Call for Open National Dialogue
According to Gbarwee, the time has come for Liberia to speak openly about epilepsy—not in whispers, but boldly in schools, churches, mosques, workplaces, and public spaces.
“Silence kills hope. Awareness builds futures,” he said. “We must look beyond the myths and have honest conversations that teach, heal, and empower.”
Institutions Must Lead the Change
Gbarwee stressed that the fight against stigma requires coordinated effort across all sectors.
Schools should ensure safe learning environments for students with epilepsy and train teachers in basic seizure first aid.Public transport operators should learn how to assist passengers during seizures instead of rejecting them.
Workplaces should embrace inclusion rather than using fear as an excuse for discrimination.
“Imagine a Liberia where a child with epilepsy can dream, where an adult with epilepsy can work, and where every seizure is met with care, not panic,” he said.
A Call for Compassion and Action
Gbarwee emphasized that the movement is about more than health—it is about humanity, dignity, and inclusion.
“Epilepsy does not erase a person’s value,” he said. “Every child, every mother, every worker living with epilepsy is a Liberian with dreams. It is our collective duty to support them.”
He called on government agencies, civil society, development partners, and communities to join HMEL in breaking the silence and reshaping the national narrative around epilepsy.
A Future Built on Understanding
As Liberia works to rebuild its health sector and strengthen community systems, Gbarwee believes that epilepsy awareness must be part of the national agenda.
“When we talk openly, we open doors.
When we understand, we break chains.
And when we support, we heal families,” he said.
HMEL says it stands ready to lead the push toward a Liberia where epilepsy is no longer feared, hidden, or misunderstood—but openly discussed, compassionately supported, and fully integrated into national development.
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