African neurosurgery: Current situation, priorities, and needs

OBJECTIVE: The beginning of a new millennium causes us to reflect on the st ate of neurosurgery in the African countries and to affirm that we are eage r to provide quality health care for our people. This study is important be cause its main purpose is to assess progress toward achievements and to ide ntify potential problems, so that remedial action can be taken. METHODS: To attain these objectives, the following steps were performed: pl anning, surveying, analyzing feedback, and reporting. We first formed the W orld Health Organization African Subcommittee. In a meeting held in Dakar o n May 25, 1998, we agreed on a strategy and devised a statistical form to a dopt. After the drafts were approved, they were distributed to 51 African c ountries. The survey was performed by representatives who spent 6 months an alyzing and collecting data. RESULTS: The results were alarming. After data analysis, we classified the countries into four main groups with respect to the number of neurosurgeons , the equipment potential, and the training capacity. One of the main obser vations is the need for organization and structured training. Another weakn ess is the lack of medicosurgical equipment. Poor funding and a lack of res ources are responsible for this situation. CONCLUSION: Overcoming these problems will require that African neurosurgeo ns target a number of priorities, i.e., devising local training programs an d obtaining the necessary equipment. We appeal to national and internationa l institutions to focus on these two points to ensure long-term results, in cluding greater involvement of African countries in local training and grea ter cooperation in terms of technical support and funding.