Gabon health ministry warns of late stroke treatment
Nearly 80% of stroke patients arrive at hospitals after the window for life-saving thrombolysis treatment has closed.
In Gabon, almost 80% of stroke patients reach hospitals too late for effective treatment, according to the Ministry of Health. This delay means victims often miss the critical window for thrombolysis, a procedure that can limit disability and save lives. The Centre hospitalier universitaire de Libreville (CHUL) saw its stroke admission rate rise from 42% in 2004 to 62.5% in 2025.
Minister of Health, Pr Elsa Nkana Joséphine Ayo épouse Bivigou, urged the public to recognize stroke symptoms and call for immediate help. A dedicated neurovascular unit at CHUL, established in 2021, has performed about 20 thrombolysis interventions. Hospital mortality for stroke patients has decreased from 9.5% in 2005 to 3.9% in 2026, but access to treatment remains limited by cost, as it is not covered by CNAMGS.
The ministry is advocating for more equitable access to stroke treatments and improved care throughout the entire chain, from initial alert to rehabilitation. Key risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, inactivity, overweight, and excessive alcohol consumption. The campaign's slogan emphasizes recognizing signs, alerting emergency services, and acting without delay.
Why it mattersGabonese citizens are at risk of severe disability or death from strokes because they are not receiving timely medical intervention.