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Jessie Nyirenda's seizures began in her early teens. She was dismissed as attention-seeking and told she might be cursed. Years later, Jessie discovered information about her condition through library research and was formally diagnosed. She now works as a financial educator and is a mother of three children.

Jessie was part of an advisory board to the International Bureau for Epilepsy, which helped develop an advocate's toolkit on counteracting epilepsy stigma in Africa. The toolkit is the first of several that will be developed in different regions of the world.

Dr. Bruna Nucera interviewed Jessie about her experience with epilepsy, her advice to others with epilepsy, and how she has dealt with discrimination.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

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The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.