A UK woman is travelling to Malawi and across Africa to raise awareness of epilepsy and end the stigma attached to the condition in certain cultures.

Tara Engelmann, Aberdeen, will spend the next three weeks in an impoverished area plagued by malnutrition – in a bid to spread awareness of what epilepsy is and what causes epileptic fits.

The trip has been arranged by the Kerusso Trust, a Scottish Christian mission charity.

Ms Engelmann said: “There is a lack of understanding about what epilepsy is, a lot of people there [in Malawi] still believe it is contagious so sufferers can be excluded from their community.

“Children who suffer seizures can be forced to leave school, because teachers haven’t been trained in how to deal with them”.

Ms Engelmann added that, in certain superstitious cultures, epilepsy is believed to signify signs of demonic possession.

“There’s a lot of suspicion out there too, and I’m trying to explain that sufferers have not been possessed by a demon.

“Sometimes the chiefs there don’t understand epilepsy and say everybody should be out farming – even if that increases the risk of people injuring themselves in a fit.

Kerusso Trust director, Jonathan Groves, added: “Ms Engelmann has a great heart for the poor and vulnerable. It is fantastic that she can share her skills and experience to support some of the most marginalised people in Malawi.”