Without Borders

Editor's Blog

  • Epilepsy is part of a syndemic in sub-Saharan Africa
    Gretchen L. Birbeck, MD, MPH

     

    Clinicians caring for neurological disorders in resource-limited settings today are all too familiar with the ugly reality of comorbid infectious diseases (IDs) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In June, the National Academy of Sciences held a workshop on this important topic and the recently released report is an insightful and at times inspiring read.1 The meeting clearly strove to put these escalating dual burdens in some rationale framework that might offer a way forward.

    Continued...

    January 2, 2020
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  • Global Stuff You Should Know

    Advances in Paediatric Neuro-oncology: Time to examine the issue of Abandonment Rates for Care
     
    By Chuer Zhang, MB, BChir, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, United Kingdom; Sumit Gupta, MD, PhD, FRCPC Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Tiffany Seah, MB, BChir, National University Hospital, Singapore; Jay Halbert, MBBS, MRCPCH, Royal London Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Shashi Prabha, MBBS, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
     
    Pediatric oncology has transitioned from a field of despair to one of great hope in the past decades. Steady improvements have been achieved in outcomes for children with central nervous system (CNS) tumors. However, there are huge discrepancies in this progress globally. Outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are significantly inferior compared to those in high-income countries.
     

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  • On The Road

    A Brief Report on the 4th African Epilepsy Congress held in Entebbe, Uganda from August 22-24, 2019
     
    by Dr Mumba Tayali, Chikankata Mission General Hospital and Mr Charles Mang’ombe, Monze Mission General Hospital
     
    The conference brought together about 250 delegates mostly from Africa and from outside Africa. Delegates included Epilepsy specialists, researchers, social scientists, media people, clinicians, nurses and people living with epilepsy. Present also was African Union representative, who promised commitment by the organization to the fight against epilepsy and its negative effects. He said disabilities, and epilepsy in particular, was high on the African Union agenda. The conference was amazingly organized and so many presenters from all over the globe presented on different topics covering epilepsy in a broader sense. It was officially opened by Ugandan Ministry of Health representative, who in his speech highlighted the ministry’s commitment towards the fight against epilepsy. He could not hide his happiness that a conference of this magnitude was held in Uganda given that the problem of epilepsy in the country was huge, about 157 000 people living with epilepsy The conference was largely sponsored by International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE).
     
     
    Joint Neurology Association of South Africa and the African Academy of Neurology Congress 2019
     
    By Michelle Kvalsund, DO from the University of Zambia and Michigan State University
     
    The Neurology Association of South Africa (NASA) and African Academy of Neurology (AFAN), convened together for a joint congress in East London, South Africa from February 26-March 1, 2019. AFAN has biennial congresses, and itself is not yet 4yrs old (founded August 2015) and the congress now seems poised to be a seminal event for clinicians and researchers focused on advocacy, clinical education and research on neurologic conditions across Africa.
     

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  • Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

    A Shout out to Developments in Zambian Neurology - If one reviews the 2017 World Health Organization’s Atlases for neurological care in Africa, it is a depressing sight indeed. For a more promising and updated view of developments in African neurology including medical education and improvements in patient care, check out these two encouraging reports from Zambia

    Report 1   Report 2  

    Attention early career neurologists from lower and lower-middle income countries!! - WFN is again offering Junior Travel Fellowships--£1,000 to support travel to a conference. Quite an opportunity. If you are from the African region, consider applying to attend the Congress of the Neurological Association of South Africa—a truly excellent academic gathering.

    Johns Hopkins Global Neurology Fellowship - Applications are being accepted for this amazing opportunity—one sure to launch the career of someone interested in pursuing work in academic neurology with a global focus. Check it out.

    Share the impact of your global health experiences  - John Hopkins is conducting a research study of the impact of global health experiences during neurology training on an individual's clinical skills and knowledge, career development, and long-term practice. If you completed a global health experience (i.e. clinical, research, and/or educational) within the last 10 years that took place during your neurology residency or fellowship, we would sincerely appreciate your participation. In addition, if you know neurologists who participated in global health experiences during their neurology training, we would appreciate it if you would share this information. Find the survey here.

    Calling for African Neurologists! - The dearth of neurologic expertise in Africa remains a major barrier to patient care, medical education and research endeavors. So three cheers for the World Federation of Neurology, the Neurological Association of South Africa and the University of Cape Town for striving to build this capacity. They are now calling for applications from African physicians in LMICs to apply for a new training opportunity—a 4-year post graduate neurology training program at the University of Cape Town. This looks like an amazing opportunity for the right person and their home country.

    Neurology: Clinical Practice has just launched their next Practice Current survey on a universally controversial topic - Practice Current: How do you diagnose and treat post-concussive headache? Please consider completing the survey to add your own perspective.

     

  • Meet the Editor

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    Dr. Gretchen Birbeck, MD, MPH, DTMH, FAAN, Without Borders Editor, Rochester, NY