Child Neurology Services in Africa

The first African Child Neurology Association meeting identified key challenges that the continent faces to improve the health of children with neurology disorders. The capacity to diagnose common neurologic conditions and rare disorders is lacking. The burden of neurologic disease on the continent is not known, and this lack of knowledge limits the ability to lobby for better health care provision. Inability to practice in resource-limited settings has led to the migration of skilled professionals away from Africa. Referral systems from primary to tertiary are often unpredictable and chaotic. There is a lack of access to reliable supplies of basic neurology treatments such as antiepileptic drugs. Few countries have nationally accepted guidelines either for the management of epilepsy or status epilepticus. There is a great need to develop better training capacity across Africa in the recognition and management of neurologic conditions in children, from primary health care to the subspecialist level.

Keywords

Africa, child neurology, resources

Citation

Wilmshurst, J. M., Badoe, E., Wammanda, R. D., Mallewa, M., Kakooza-Mwesige, A., Venter, A., & Newton, C. R. (2011). Child neurology services in Africa. Journal of child neurology, 26(12), 1555-1563.https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0883073811420601

URI

https://nru.uncst.go.ug/handle/123456789/3805

Collections

Medical and Health Sciences

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