A consultant neurologist from Basildon University Hospital has set up the first epilepsy service in Sierra Leone.

Dr Radcliffe Lisk set up an award-winning epilepsy service for south Essex and has now taken his expertise to Sierra Leone, where there is virtually no access to medication or support for the country's estimated 50,000 epilepsy sufferers. He has set up a British Council-funded initiative with the Lumley Government Hospital, in collaboration with UK charity Medical Assistance Sierra Leone. During his 12-month sabbatical he aims to establish a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment facility, and train local doctors and nurses.

There is very little understanding of epilepsy in Sierra Leone: it is very rarely diagnosed, there is little medication available and sufferers are often socially excluded from their communities. The scale of the need is huge and there are large numbers of patients waiting for Dr Lisk at each session, many more than can be treated.

The project needs an electroencephalogram (EEG) machine to make diagnosis many times more effective and accurate, and enable Dr Lisk to carry out training with local doctors. This small portable machine is used with a laptop and costs £14,500. If you want to make a donation visit the website at www.masierraleone.org.uk.

Note to editors:

For more information about this project, contact Sarah Snow at mail@masierraleone.org.uk