Senegal doctors see stroke patients after eight-year waits

Saint-Louis residents struggling with stroke after-effects received free medical consultations on October 29, 2026, at the Ousmane Ngom health centre. The event, organised by the Senegalese Association for Support to Stroke Patients and Families (ASP-AVC), aimed to address the region's shortage of neurologists. Many patients had not seen a specialist for up to eight years.

Dr. Mame Maimouna Diaw Santos, a neurologist at the Saint-Louis regional hospital, saw about 40 patients during the event. She noted that stroke victims represent four out of every 10 neurology patients she sees. Dr. Diaw Santos stated she has been the sole neurologist at the facility since June 2021, highlighting the need for more specialists to manage patient care.

The free consultations also included screenings for high blood pressure and diabetes, along with medication donations. Community health workers, known as Badianou Gokh, also participated, emphasizing the need for ongoing awareness campaigns beyond the annual World Stroke Day. Dr. Diaw Santos stressed that prevention, including regular physical activity and managing conditions like hypertension and diabetes, is important.

Why it mattersStroke patients in Saint-Louis face long waits for specialist care due to a shortage of neurologists.

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