Global Epilepsy Connection Rwanda (GECO) – Meet the IBE Chapter
In the first edition of IBE's 'Meet the Chapter' series we are introduced to the wonderful work of Rwandan organisation GECO - the Global Epilepsy Connection. GECO started as a small team helping people from a small village in Rubavu before expanding our team with volunteers . We have reached different regions of our country helping people who live with epilepsy through education, counseling and health care. GECO was formed in 2010. 80% of our members are parents with a child who has epilepsy, including young adults affected by a chronic episode in their daily life. Our aim is to inform each community area about the disease. GECO has formed a mobile group of volunteers who visit each hospital patient in their communities, making sure they are informed about the disease and have a practical talk with their families about the side effect of the drugs, combining drugs with a balance diet and preventing any disruption to income generating activities. We teach families the relevant paramedical skills – how to put the body in the recovery position, teaching parents not to leave their children alone in the house without an adult due to fire hazards etc. We have many fatal [...]