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Humble Beginnings

In 1997, a group of Professional Volunteers under the leadership of Youssouf Noormamode, C.S.K, Founder of EDYCS Epilepsy Group rallied together to form a voice for epilepsy in the Republic of Mauritius. Since 1997, we have been serving the country as a registered health charity incorporated under the statutes of the Registrar of Associations as a non-profit and non-governmental organization. We aim to advocate the Rights of Persons with epilepsy, raise public awareness, improve education through publications, conferences and outreach initiatives.

Where are we now?

Today, EDYCS Epilepsy Group has 4 full time established operating Centers in Mauritius and Rodrigues islands. Over the years, the structure and management have evolved into an organization much greater than the founding group of members could have imagined. Through it all however, our mission remains unchanged:

EDYCS Epilepsy Group exists to promote independence and optimal quality of life for those living with seizure disorders by promoting information, awareness, support services, advocacy, education and research.

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is estimated around more than 20,000 people in the Republic of Mauritius. It is the most common serious brain disorder affecting people of all ages, religions, communities and social backgrounds. Epilepsy is a tendency to have recurrent seizures called ‘fits’ or ‘seizures’ which originate from the brain. These result from disturbances in the brain’s normal electrical activity. Congenital abnormalities, prenatal and perinatal factors, severe head trauma or injury, infections of the brain, cerebrovascular disease, brain malformations, cerebral tumors can lead to epilepsy. Learning disability and behavior disturbance are also commonly found in many people with chronic epilepsy.

Our Vision

EDYCS Epilepsy Group’s vision is to create an epilepsy free community.

Our Mission

EDYCS Epilepsy Group is dedicated to promoting independence and optimal quality of life for children and adults living with seizure disorders through the development of appropriate strategies, programs and services addressing their needs and fulfilling their Rights. 

Our Values

Our members are patients and family focused. We work collaboratively with our Professional & Government partners. We work cross sectors to bring epilepsy out of the shadows in the Republic of Mauritius, its outer islands and Africa.

Our Key Objectives

• Advocate for the domestication of WHO Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy at country level
• Advocate for the Rights of People with Epilepsy  in line with the UNCRPD and the African Charter on Human Rights of People with Disabilities
• Promote epilepsy awareness and education to create acceptability of the disorder
• Provide epilepsy care services including therapeutic and psychological support to People with Epilepsy
• Promote inclusive education for children and young adolescents with epilepsy and  learning disorders
• Engage Professional Volunteers to support our programs and projects
• Mobilize both technical and financial resources to achieve planned programs and services
• Develop close working partnership with Government Agencies, Donor funding Institutions Private Foundations, the Media and the Private Corporate Sector to achieve our mission
• Organize training workshops in epilepsy management targeting medical and non-medical Professionals
• Create linkage and collaboration with Regional and International Organizations in epilepsy
• Raise high the profile of epilepsy, its medical and social consequences with Parliamentarians to advance the epilepsy agenda 

Our Core Areas of Work

• Advocacy in Human Rights & Policies
• Campaigning epilepsy out of the shadows under the WHO/ILAE/IBE Global Campaign against epilepsy
• Employability of Persons with epilepsy
• Epilepsy Care Support Services
• Inclusive Education
• Membership
• Mobilization of resources
• Publications
• Training
• Volunteers
• Women’s with epilepsy empowerment 

A glimpse at our Operating Centers (Mauritius & Rodrigues islands)

The Center located at Boulevard Rivaltz Port Louis was inaugurated on 27 November 2007 by His Excellency, Sir A. Jugnauth, GCSK, KCMG, PC, QC, the President of the Republic of Mauritius.   It is fully equipped and staffed to provide free support services to registered People with Epilepsy in terms of:

• Community epilepsy awareness program
• Complementary massage
• Epilepsy care treatment
• Home visit
• Information about epilepsy
• Psychological counseling
• Publications around epilepsy
• Social and leisure programs
• Training 

EDYCS Help to Grow Educational & Rehabilitation Center

EDYCS Help to Grow Educational & Rehabilitation Center is a registered SEN School to the Ministry of Education established on 24^th February 2010 with the prime objective to provide inclusive education to children and young adolescents with epilepsy and learning disorders. The Center is staffed with a Manager, 3 SEN Educators, a Carer and a Handyman. The school is supported by both the Ministry of Education Grant and CSR funding.

EDYCS Rodrigues Epilepsy Health Service Center

The Center located at Quarters la Ferme was inaugurated on  by Mr. Ladd Emilien, Rodrigues Regional Assembly Commission for Health and the Chairperson of the NGO Trust Fund.   It is  managed by a full time Service Coordinator employed under the National Social Inclusion Foundation Programme Grant to provide free support services to registered People with Epilepsy in Rodrigues in terms of:

• Community epilepsy awareness program
• Complementary massage
• Epilepsy care treatment
• Home visit
• Information about epilepsy
• Psychological counseling
• Publications around epilepsy
• Social and leisure programs
• Training 

EDYCS Rodrigues Help to Grow Educational & Rehabilitation Center

EDYCS Rodrigues Help to Grow Educational & Rehabilitation Center is a registered SEN School to the Rodrigues Regional Assembly Commission of Education established on  with the prime objective to provide inclusive education to children and young adolescents with epilepsy and learning disorders. The Center is staffed with a Manager, 3 SEN Educators, a Carer and a Handyman. The school is supported by the RRA Commission for Education Grant.

Our Registration

• Registrar of Associations, Government of Mauritius Licence 5268
• National Social Inclusion Foundation N/2017/0154
• Government of Mauritius Business Registration Number A19000212
• Ministry of Education (SENS Unit) / Special Education Needs Authority
• Disability Unit Ministry of Social Integration , Social Security and National Solidarity

Our Affiliation (Mauritius)

• Port Louis Regional Youth Council / National Youth Council
• National Council for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons
• Mauritius Family Planning Welfare Association
• Indian Ocean Disability Network (IODN)
• Foodwise 

Our Recognition (Mauritius)

• Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity
• Ministry of Education (SENS Unit)
• Ministry of Health & Wellness
• Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare
• Ministry of Justice, Human Rights and Institutional Reforms
• Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Recreation
• World Health Organisation Country Office Mauritius

Our Regional & International Affiliations

• Africa Disability Alliance
• IBE Africa Regional Committee
• International Bureau for Epilepsy 

Bank Information

• Mauritius Commercial Bank (Current Account 01-1513144) Sir William Newton Port Louis
• MauBank (Current Account 06-1100002224) Pope Hennessy Port Louis 

Awards

• Outstanding NGO Award (Mauritius Council of Social Services) Year 1999
• Oscar de la Jeunesse Award  (Ministry of Youth & Sports) Year 1999
• Outstanding NGO Award (Mauritius Council of Social Services) Year 2000
• Nominee Oscar de la Jeunesse Award (Ministry of Youth & Sports) Year 2000
• United Way Volunteer Award Year 2002
• Nominee AOYP Junior Economic Chamber Year 2002
• Outstanding NGO Award (Mauritius Council of Social Services) Year 2003
• Nominee National Youth Council Project Award Year 2004
• United Way Mauritius Best Affiliate Award Year 2005
• 1^st Prize National NGO Award (Ministry of Social Security, NGO Trust Fund & MACOSS) Year 2008
• 1^st Prize Lifetime Achievement Award (Mauritius Council of Youth Leaders) Year 2009
• Africa Leadership Award in Healthcare (World CSR Day) Year 2019

Our Strategic Goals

The following strategic goals represent longer-term directions that represent explicit major choices about the scope of EDYCS Epilepsy Group’s efforts and the outcomes we want to achieve, taking advantage of internal strengths and external opportunities. The achievement of these Strategic Goals will represent significant improvements within the organization and help fulfill EDYCS Epilepsy Group vision and mission. Our core areas of intervention will be:

• PROMOTION AFRICA DISABILITY PROTOCOL
• AWARENESS
• EDUCATION
• RESEARCH

PURPOSE OF STRATEGIC GOALS

EDYCS Epilepsy Group sees continued opportunity in its strategic positioning as the leading multidisciplinary epilepsy professional organization. At the same time, the role of EDYCS Epilepsy Group is evolving with changes in health care, social programmes, pressures from the decline in our sources of funding, and changing expectations around professional development and education. In order to be well-positioned for these changes, EDYCS Epilepsy Group is proposing achievable plan to guide its work for the next two years.

PROMOTION EPILEPSY EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS

STRATEGY 1:  Collaborate with the National Social Inclusion Foundation

STRATEGY 2:  Strengthen and develop new partnership with National and Regional Stakeholders to the promotion of the Rights of Persons with Epilepsy and Employment.

IMPLEMENTATION & PROMOTION WHO RESOLUTION ON THE GLOBAL BURDEN OF EPILEPSY

STRATEGY 1:  Collaborate with the AFRICA REGIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE IBE