Young Epilepsy Botswana’s 8th Annual Purple Walk
Staff Writer | Tuesday March 14, 2023 06:00
Locally, Young Epilepsy Botswana (YEB) will join other nations in hosting the Purple Walk, which will take place a day before the global commemoration day on March 25 in Gaborone.
The walk serves to raise awareness on the prevalence and impact of using treatment to manage seizure attacks. This year's Purple Walk will be held under the theme, "So They Never Have A Seizure Again". Bame Motsomatshukudu from YEB’s public relations and communications department explained that "over the last months, Botswana has been hard hit with shortage of medicines more especially in remote areas. Motsomatshukudu further added that the other issue they are faced with as a society is people who default from treatment because they believe there is cure for epilepsy while it is scientifically proven that the cure is not there as yet.
"This has the potential to put persons living with epilepsy at risk more especially those that are affected by constant seizure disorder," she added. There is a lot of misunderstanding regarding epilepsy, hence the need to educate and sensitise the public on the medical conditions and show people living with epilepsy and their families the importance of adhering to treatment. Check in for Purple Walk will open at 4:30am and close at 5:45pm at The Grand Palm Hotel Casino Convention Resort with the walk commencing at 6am and end with a health break at Railpark Mall after a 5km walk. As participants register they will receive free merchandise.
The walk will conclude with a commemoration. Motsomatshukudu said they are expecting a mass of attendees including individuals, families, colleagues, government entities, private companies because epilepsy is a national concern. Zambezi Corporation, The Grand Palm Hotel Casino Convention Resort, Railpark Mall, The Voice newspaper are the avid partners of the Purple Walk. Motsomatshukudu further appealed to other private companies to join in by assisting with more sponsorship.