Machakos County health executive Naomi Mutie has cautioned parents against abandoning children with epilepsy.
Briefing journalists at her Machakos office on Tuesday, Mutie raised alarm over the high number of abandoned epileptic children.
The health executive observed that some parents and guardians are abandoning their children on the streets because of the epileptic condition.
“It is unfortunate that many parents and guardians are finding it hard to accept children born with epilepsy,” she said.
Mutie said that cultural beliefs and perceptions about epileptic persons have seen the number of abandoned children increase.
“The society has become harsh against children and people with the epileptic condition,” she said.
Mutie said that at least 1000 new cases of epilepsy are reported every year across the county.
She asked the society to accept people with such conditions noting that it can be managed.
The health executive said her department has launched programmes and campaigns to inform residents that epilepsy is not a curse but a medical condition.