Closing the Epilepsy Treatment Gap in Bolivia
Webinar series expands training in pediatric epilepsy
“I feel there is a very special bridge between us. Through these virtual trainings, we have not only received scientific knowledge but also support. We want to continue to strengthen this bridge for the well-being of our children.”
Dr. Tita Fernandez, October 26, 2021, at the conclusion of the final webinar of a seven-part series on pediatric epilepsy.
Solidarity Bridge depends on the leadership and incentive of local champions in Bolivia and Paraguay. In the field of epilepsy, this role is aptly filled by Dr. Tita Fernandez, president of the Santa Cruz Pediatric Society, and Dr. Victor Cuellar, pediatric neurologist at the Santa Cruz Children’s Hospital in Bolivia. Together they helped Solidarity Bridge and Puente de Solidaridad launch a series of webinars benefitting a wide audience including Bolivian pediatricians, neurologists, internists, nurses, and even family members of patients with epilepsy. Over 250 participants signed on for these virtual courses which qualified for continuing medical education credit (CMEs) for eligible medical professionals through the Bolivian Medical College.
The World Health Organization estimates that nearly three-quarters of people with epilepsy living in low-income countries do not get the treatment they need. The treatment gap is often linked to a lack of trained specialists. In Bolivia, pediatric neurology is a relatively new sub-specialty; the Bolivian Ministry of Health created the first fellowships in pediatric neurology just five years ago. Our long-time partner, Dr. Victor Cuellar, was a graduate of the second class in the country, and to date there are still only some twenty subspecialists like him in all of Bolivia. Since most of these pediatric neurologists are based in the two largest cities, Santa Cruz and La Paz, the lack of care is especially acute in smaller cities and remote areas. Our webinar series aimed to alleviate the diagnostic and treatment gap attributable to the limited availability of specialists by providing basic training to the wider range of health professionals throughout Bolivia who encounter epilepsy patients in their daily practice.
The webinars responded to a very real public health need. Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological disorders in the world, affecting an estimated 50 million people. According to a 2012 article published in the Lancet Medical Journal,* the burden of epilepsy in low-income countries like Bolivia is more than twice that found in high-income countries. It is estimated that up to 70% of people living with epilepsy could live seizure-free with proper diagnosis and treatment. The higher burden of epilepsy in these regions can be reduced by improving access to accurate diagnosis and treatment and ensuring a continuous supply of quality antiepileptic drugs.
The newly established Neurosurgery and Neurology Institute (NNI) of Solidarity Bridge aims to collaborate with our Bolivian partners to improve access to low-cost interventions. Initial priorities of the NNI encompass patient education and treatment, research, and the mobilization of anticonvulsant medicines and equipment for epilepsy diagnosis. We hope to continue to build on the success of this year’s webinar series by involving more Bolivian practitioners and reaching larger audiences.
We are especially grateful to Dr. Rebecca Garcia, a pediatric neurologist from the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, for mobilizing a network of U.S. neurologists and epileptologists who shared their knowledge and expertise on topics including pediatric migraines, ketogenic diet, neonatal neurology, pediatric febrile seizures, epilepsy devices, and pediatric epilepsy syndromes. Thanks also to Solidarity Bridge board member Kurt Florian who led one of the courses in the series and who continues to be a champion for epilepsy training and treatment in Bolivia.
Solidarity Bridge mission team meeting with the neurology team at the Children’s Hospital in Santa Cruz.
At the end of this successful series, our partners at Puente de Solidaridad shared the following reflection: “These experiences give us the motivation to continue making our way through the pandemic, joining forces with other important institutions, always with our motto of being on a permanent mission for the health of the Bolivian population."
You can learn more about the work of the Solidarity Bridge Neurosurgery and Neurology Institute on our newly launched website. U.S. members of the NNI leadership team will be returning to Bolivia in the coming weeks to provide neurosurgeries and training in Sucre and to continue to solidify partnerships throughout the country.
Through partnerships and collaborative actions that are measurable and sustainable, the Neurosurgery and Neurology Institute works to build capacity and expertise in Bolivia and Paraguay in order to increase access to safe, affordable and timely health care.
We are committed to alleviating the suffering, death and disability from neurological disorders and injuries that disproportionately impact patients in the countries where we serve.