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Pandemics and Burden of Stroke and Epilepsy in Sub-Saharan Africa: Experience from a Longstanding Health Programme

Authors :
Giovanni Guidotti
Michelangelo Bartolo
Stefano Orlando
Victor Tamba Tolno
Noorjehan Majid
Sandro Petrolati
Massimo Leone
Jean-Baptiste Sagno
Fabio Massimo Corsi
Maria Cristina Marazzi
Fausto Ciccacci
Darlington Thole
Source :
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol 18, Iss 2766, p 2766 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2021.

Abstract

Eighty percent of people with stroke live in low- to middle-income nations, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where stroke has increased by more than 100% in the last decades. More than one-third of all epilepsy−related deaths occur in SSA. HIV infection is a risk factor for neurological disorders, including stroke and epilepsy. The vast majority of the 38 million people living with HIV/AIDS are in SSA, and the burden of neurological disorders in SSA parallels that of HIV/AIDS. Local healthcare systems are weak. Many standalone HIV health centres have become a platform with combined treatment for both HIV and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), as advised by the United Nations. The COVID-19 pandemic is overwhelming the fragile health systems in SSA, and it is feared it will provoke an upsurge of excess deaths due to the disruption of care for chronic diseases such as HIV, TB, hypertension, diabetes, and cerebrovascular disorders. Disease Relief through Excellent and Advanced Means (DREAM) is a health programme active since 2002 to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS and related disorders in 10 SSA countries. DREAM is scaling up management of NCDs, including neurologic disorders such as stroke and epilepsy. We described challenges and solutions to address disruption and excess deaths from these diseases during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Details

ISSN :
16604601
Volume :
18
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....48c02395736b657aba0546d6c798cd48
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052766