A stroke is a medical emergency that happens when something prevents the brain from getting enough blood flow. Stroke is now one of the leading causes of death and disability in Africa. Current estimates indicate rates of incidence (new cases) as high as 316 per 100,000 people annually and prevalence (existing cases) of 1,460 per 100,000 – among the highest globally.
Yet, most nations lack locally adapted stroke management guidelines. This is unlike high-income countries, which regularly update their national stroke management guidelines. These guidelines typically provide standards to support uniform, evidence-based stroke care. Nicholas Aderinto, a medical doctor and doctoral researcher who has researched stroke, unpacks why Africa needs its own stroke management guidelines as a continent.
