Epilepsy Training for Medical Practitioners & Nurs

The Epilepsy Assessment and Management Course 6.0 (EAMC 6.0) is an international training program designed for clinicians in low- and middle-income countries. This program is offered by Pretola Global Health and Consulting Limited, based in the United Kingdom.

Sponsored by the Row Foundation and the Danny Did Foundation; this initiative offers participants a complimentary opportunity to gain specialized knowledge and skills for managing epilepsy within the community.

The EAMC 6.O featured Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) and Dravet syndrome with trainings being conducted by weekly from January 18^th to the 26^th of April 2025 totaling to 8 weeks.

In late 2024, the Epilepsy Warriors Foundation successfully contacted a total of seven institutions with a proposal to host EAMC 6.0 Centres, also contacted were clinicians who had participated in the EAMC in previous years for virtual registration.

Institutions contacted include; Bwaila Hospital in Lilongwe District, Catholic University of Malawi in Chiladzulu District, Ekwendeni College of Health Sciences in Mzimba District, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences Blantyre Campus, College of Health Sciences Blantyre Campus, College of Health Sciences Lilongwe Campus, and College of Health Sciences Zomba Campus.

A total of 184 participants were registered for the EAMC 6.0 with 24 participants being lecturers from Ekwendeni College of Health Sciences, 128 Student Nurses from Ekwendeni College of Health Sciences, 6 lecturers and 3 student Nurses from Malawi college of Health Sciences Zomba campus and 23 health practitioners from Salima, Dowa, Chikwawa, Karonga, Mzimba, Neno, Lilongwe, Thyolo and Mchinji districts attended the course virtually.

Course outline:

1. Trainers and Topics Covered - Week 1

A total of 3 speakers facilitated the training sessions for week 1.

Topics Covered

1. Course Introduction presented
2. What is Epilepsy presented
3. History Taking in Epilepsy Diagnosis presented

1. Trainers and Topics Covered - Week 2

A total of 2 speakers facilitated the training sessions

Topics Covered

1. Epilepsy and Stigma
2. Epilepsy Care in Puberty and Transition

1. Trainers and Topics Covered - Week 3

A total of 3 speakers facilitated the training sessions

Topics Covered

1. SUDEP in low- & Middle-Income countries (LMIC)
2. SUDEP Prevention in Pregnancy
3. SUDEP Risk Assessment and Prevention

1. Trainers and Topics Covered - Week 4

A total of 2 speakers facilitated the training sessions

Topics Covered

1. Status Epilepticus
2. Non-Epileptic Attack Disorders (NEAD)
3. Epilepsy Treatment Options

1. Trainers and Topics Covered - Week 5

A total of 2 speakers facilitated the training sessions

Topic Covered

1. Temporal Lobe Epilepsy presented
2. Frontal Lobe Epilepsy presented

Trainers and Topics Covered - Week 6

A total of 2 speakers facilitated the training sessions

Topics Covered

1. Meeting the needs of Women with Epilepsy presented
2. Neuro-developmental disability and Epilepsy presented

1. Trainers and Topics Covered - Week 7

A total of 1 speaker facilitated the training sessions

Topics Covered

1. Tackling Stigma through Equitable & Person Centred Care
2. A discussion on the Curse of Stigma  

1. Trainers and Topics Covered - Week 8

A total of 2 speakers facilitated the training sessions

Topics Covered

1. Working with families and carers to better understand treatment
2. Epilepsy Assessment & Management Course 6.0 Wrap up

Progress achieved while coordinating the project this year

• Four WhatsApp groups were created for information sharing with participants. These groups were utilized to remind participants of upcoming training sessions, including the advice to register in advance for the courses, as well as to share EAMC 6.0 YouTube links for those joining the training sessions via YouTube and finally shared feedback forms with participants.
• In January 2025 EWF facilitated the first sessions of EAMC 6.0, hosted by Ekwendeni College of Health Sciences in Mzimba District of Northern Malawi. The objective was to orient students appointed to coordinate the center on how to successfully join virtual sessions and addressing any technical difficulties that might be encountered during the training.
• Successfully conducted 3 orientation sessions with participants on the use of system i.o, the EAMC, the weeks expected out of participants to attend sessions in order to be issued a certificate, how to interact with presenters during Q&A sessions and to make sure they join zoom with their devices registered in their name.
• Sent Zoom registration links for training sessions to student nurses on clinical placements.

Outcomes:

• One participant from Chikwawa District Hospital conducted an awareness session with 18 of her colleagues, where she raised awareness about sudden unexpected death in epilepsy and further encouraged her colleagues to educate those at the hospital who did not attend the awareness session.
• EWF encouraged participants to identify and discuss potential projects that could be conducted utilizing the knowledge acquired from EAMC 6.0.
• Lecturers from Ekwendeni college of health sciences attended the course virtually than previously anticipated
• Oriented two lecturers from the College of Health Sciences, Zomba Campus, on the use of Zoom and recorded their feedback regarding their experience with the EAMC.

Challenges: 

• Poor internet reception especially at the center in Ekwendeni college of health sciences
• 3 participants were unable to attend the training sessions due to church commitments on the scheduled training days.
• The EAMC Centre experienced a low turnout of participants beginning in week three of the training sessions, as some student nurses were assigned to clinical placements.
• The center was facilitated by a student nurse utilizing their personal laptop; however, the center faced challenges during the facilitators clinical placement, as another student and laptop had to be identified to take over the facilitation.
• Some participants attending the sessions virtually were unable to utilize both zoom and You tube and opted to attend the sessions at a center in the future.

Way Forward 

• To identify mobile carriers suitable for each location which the EAMC is being hosted in advance to minimize interruptions caused due to poor internet connectivity.
• To inform participants about the specific day when EAMC training sessions are held prior to their registration, in order to reduce non-attendance, particularly for those who observe prayers on Saturdays.
• To register first year student nurses only for EAMC centers in the future as they are not assigned to go on clinical placement to minimize low turn-out of participants at the EAMC Centre
• To register student nurses eligible for clinical placements for virtual attendance in order to minimize low turnout of participants at the EAMC Center during training sessions.
• To execute Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with institutions hosting EAMC centers, clearly delineating the responsibilities of the hosting institution and those of EWF (Coordinator).