Revisiting Africa’s Stroke Obstacles and Services (SOS)

BACKGROUND: As one of the most common non-communicable diseases in Africa, Stroke ought to be dealt with properly with intensifying efforts to control its burden and to face obstacles in its management. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this follow-up study we reanalyzed stroke services and related obstacles in 17 African countries that were previously studied in 2021/22 in aspects related to manpower, acute stroke services, rehabilitation programs, number of stroke units/centers, telestroke services, awareness campaigns, and national and international stroke registries through a survey that was sent to stroke specialists and national stroke societies. Overall, there is an improvement in many fields yet many obstacles in the implementation of telestroke services, acute management, secondary prevention, post-discharge services, and follow-ups whether governmental, medical, or societal are prevalent. CONCLUSION: Stroke services in Africa are improving in 2024 compared to 2021/22 in many fields, stationary in some fields, and regressing in a few. Managing obstacles that are raised by stroke specialists collectively and on individual countries basis will pave the way for better services for the wellness of stroke victims in Africa.