Maseru—For many Basotho living with epilepsy, daily life is shaped not only by seizures but also by the silence and stigma that often surround the condition. Children are kept out of school, adults are denied opportunities and families carry a quiet burden of fear and misunderstanding. 

As Lesotho joined the global community in commemorating World Epilepsy Day, this reality was brought into sharp focus, alongside a renewed call for action to ensure dignity, inclusion and hope for all.

Speaking at the national commemoration ceremony in Maseru district, the Minister of Health, Honourable Selibe Mochoboroane, urged partners, communities and health professionals to use every available platform to raise awareness and strengthen health education on epilepsy. “Let us join hands to ensure that people with this disease are not stigmatized or discriminated against,” he said, emphasizing that with proper treatment, people living with epilepsy can lead normal, fulfilling lives.

Underscoring the Minister’s message, head of noncommunicable diseases in Lesotho’s Ministry of Health, Dr Malitaba Litaba, highlighted Lesotho’s own realities. She revealed that the country has an estimated 5000 people living with epilepsy, a significant number relative to its population. She noted that major causes include trauma, infections and spontaneous cases with an unknown causes. Trauma-related epilepsy is especially common in Lesotho, often resulting from road accidents and traditional fighting practices such as the use of fighting sticks. Many of these causes, she stressed, are preventable.

Dr Litaba encouraged communities to seek early medical support when seizures occur, emphasizing that early diagnosis and consistent medication can greatly improve quality of life and reduce complications.

Epilepsy remains one of the most common neurological conditions globally, affecting more than 50 million people. Nearly 80% of those affected live in low- and middle-income countries, including Lesotho. Encouraging evidence from WHO shows that up to 70% of people with epilepsy can live seizure-free with affordable, daily anti-seizure medicines. Epilepsy is not contagious, and in many cases, it can be effectively managed at the primary health care level.

Yet despite this, more than three-quarters of people with epilepsy in low-income settings do not receive the treatment they need. In Lesotho and many other countries, barriers such as limited access to essential medicines, shortages of trained health workers, long distances to health facilities, and persistent myths and stigma prevent people from getting timely care. The consequences are profound: too many children with epilepsy are excluded from school, too many adults are denied employment, and too many families suffer in silence.

Delivering a statement on behalf of Dr. Innocent Nuwagira, WHO Representative to Lesotho, Dr. Sirak Hailu, WHO Lesotho’s Team Lead for Disease Prevention and Control, expressed WHO’s commitment to bridging these gaps. “WHO places epilepsy high on the global public health agenda and calls for collective action through the Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders,” he explained. “We remain fully committed to working with the Government of Lesotho, civil society, and partners to close the epilepsy treatment gap, reduce stigma, and improve the quality of life for all people living with epilepsy.”

Community-based organizations such as Epilepsy Lesotho, led by Executive Director Nthabeleng Hlalele, continue to play an essential role in building understanding and supporting families. Through education, advocacy and lived experience, the organization amplifies the voices of those affected while helping communities confront harmful myths.

The ceremony concluded with a powerful moment of unity as stakeholders signed the Epilepsy Pledge, a national commitment to action and compassion. The pledge states: “We commit to dignity, inclusion, and hope for all Basotho living with epilepsy.”

This commitment reflects a collective vision for a future where people with epilepsy are not defined by stigma but supported with care, acceptance, compassion, and equal opportunity. As Lesotho moves forward, the call from the day remains clear: together, health professionals, policymakers, civil society, communities, and partners can break barriers, build bridges, and ensure that every person living with epilepsy in Lesotho is treated with dignity and humanity.