Sub-Saharan Africa
EAN-AFAN Regional Teaching Courses in Sub-Saharan Africa
The RTCs in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) aim at bringing teaching of excellence to residents in neurology and neighboring specialties in the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa. The RTC is organised in cooperation with AFAN – African Academy of Neurology - and other scientific societies who through their contribution make the RTC possible. The EAN Task Force “Neurology and Africa” together with the EAN Education Committee and Quality Assurance task-force guarantee the high scientific standard of the RTC. This educational activity in SSA started in 2008 and saw the participation of more than 1500 residents from over 20 countries of SSA.
The EAN Head Office together with the Chairperson of the EAN Task Force “Neurology and Africa” and the local organizer are responsible for the logistics surrounding the RTC in SSA.
RTCs in SSA reaches out to the following audience: Residents in neurology, internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine and all neighboring specialties to neurology.
RTCs are a joint initiative of EAN and AFAN, together with the local hosts and many other supporting societies over the years:
Organised in cooperation with: EAN - European Academy of Neurology, AFAN - African Academy of Neurology and a local Neurological Society who acts as the hosting Society.
Partner Organisations:
AAN American Academy of Neurology
ILAE International League Against Epilepsy
MDS Movement Disorder Society
WFN World Federation of Neurology
Preliminary Programme
Day 1
Thursday, 27 November 2025
08:30 – 09:00 Welcome and opening
Topic 1: Epilepsy in Africa: Current Research, Treatment Strategies, and Access to Care
Chairs: Daniel Gams-Massi & Osheik Seidi
09:00 – 09:25 Atypical seizures, Mimics and Chameleons
Paul Boon, Belgium - EAN
09:25 – 09:50 Seizure Control in Resource-Limited Settings
Jo Wilmshurst, South Africa - ILAE
09:50 - 10:15 The Role of Traditional Medicine in Epilepsy Treatment in Africa: Integrating Modern and Traditional Approaches
Moustapha Ndiaye, Senegal - AFAN
10:15 – 10:45 Coffee Break
Topic 2: Neuroinfections in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and Innovative Approaches
Chairs: Paul Boon & Jo Wilmshurst
10:45 – 11:10 Tuberculosis and the CNS: Managing Neurological Complications of TB in Sub-Saharan Africa
Suzaan Marais, South Afrca - AFAN (virtual)
11:10 – 11:35 Effective and Emerging innovative Therapies for Neuroinfections
Erich Schmutzhard, Austria – EAN (virtual)
11:35 – 12:00 Neuroinfectious Disease Outbreaks: Lessons Learned and Preparedness for Future Pandemics in Africa
Athanase Millogo, Burkina Faso - AFAN
12:00 – 13:30 Lunch Break
13:00 – 13:30 ... with Networking and Career development
Melody Asukile, Zambia - AFAN
Topic 3: Neurological Emergencies: Best Practices and Response Protocols in Resource-Limited Settings
Chairs: Saara Neshuku & Vaja Zatjirua
13:30 – 13:55 Acute neuromuscular emergencies
Imen Kacem, Tunisia - AFAN
13:55 – 14:20 Seizure Emergencies: Diagnosis, Management, and Treatment in Africa
Daniel Gams-Massi, Cameroon - AFAN
14:20 – 14:45 Acute Meningitis and Encephalitis: Early Diagnosis and Treatment in Low-Resource Environments
Athanase Millogo, Burkina Faso - AFAN
14:55 – 15:40 Workshop 1: Hands-On Neuroimaging: Interpreting CT and MRI Scans for Neurology Residents
Practical session focused on interpreting common and critical neurological imaging, uncluding stroke, tumors, neurodegenerative diseases and epilepsy
Paul Boon, Belgium - EAN
Vaja Zatjirua, Namibia - AFAN
Saara Neshuku, Namibia - AFAN
15:40 – 16:10 Coffee break
Workshop2 & 4 run in parallel with Workshop3:
Workshop 2:
16:10 – 16:55 Performing and Interpreting EEGs: A Workshop for Neurology Residents
Electroencephalography (EEG), learning to recognize normal and abnormal patterns, with emphasis on epilepsy and other neurological disorders.
Lawrence Tucker, South Africa – AFAN
Workshop 3:
16:10 – 17:50 Performing and Interpreting EMG and/or NCS: A Workshop for Neurology Residents
Practical Electroneuromyography (EMG) Workshop by IFCN
Imen Kacem, Tunisia – AFAN
Melody Asukile, Zambia – AFAN
Kate McMullen, South Africa
Workshop 4:
17:05 – 17:50 Neurovascular Emergencies: Stroke Assessment, Diagnosis, and Acute Management
Practical training on assessing patients with suspected stroke, including using NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS), neuroimaging interpretation, and thrombolysis protocol.
Muaz Elsayed, Sudan – AFAN
Day 2
Friday, 28 November 2025
Topic 4: Stroke
Chairs: TBA
09:00 – 09:25 The Emergency Management of Acute Stroke: Diagnosis and Treatment
Vaja Zatjirua, Namibia - AFAN
09:25 – 09:50 Stroke in Children and Young Adults: Identifying and Addressing Risk Factors in Africa
Saara Neshuku, Namibia - AFAN
09:50 – 10:15 Management of Stroke: Mimics and Chameleons in Resource Constrained Environments
Osheik Seidi, Sudan - AFAN
10:15 – 10:45 Coffee break
Topic 5: Movement Disorders
10:45 –11:10 Hypokinetic Movement Disorders
David Brodie-Mends, Ghana - MDS
11:10 – 11:35 Hyperkinetic Movement Disorders
Nkechi Obianozie, Nigeria - MDS
11:35 – 12:00 Functional Movement Disorders
Pille Taba, Estonia – EAN
12:00 – 13:30 Lunch break
13:00 – 13:30 ...with Working out a research protocol and how to publish it
Jeremy Tanner, USA - AAN
Topic 6: Pediatric Neurology in Africa: Emerging Trends and Best Practices
Chairs: Melody Asukile and Athanase Millogo
13:30 – 13:55 Neuroinfections in Children: A Pediatric Perspective on Diagnosis and Management
Moustapha Ndiaye, Senegal - AFAN
13:55 – 14:20 An approach to Muscular Disorders in Africa
Jo Wilmshurst, South Africa - ILAE
14:20 – 14:45 Developemental Epileptic Encephalopathies : Diagnosis and Management
Jo Wilmshurst, South Africa - ILAE
Workshop 1 & 3 run in parallel with Workshop2:
Workshop 1:
14:55 – 15:40 Neurovascular Emergencies: Stroke Assessment, Diagnosis, and Acute Management
Practical training on assessing patients with suspected stroke, including using NIH Stroke Skale (NIHSS), neuroimaging interpretation, and thrombolysis protocol
Muaz Elsayed, Sudan – AFAN
15:40 – 16:10 Coffee break
Workshop 2:
14:55 – 16:55 Performing and Interpreting EMG and/or NCS: A Workshop for Neurology Residents
Electroneuromyography (EMG) Workshop by IFCN
Melody Asukile, Zambia - AFAN
Saara Neshuku, Namibia – AFAN
Kate McMullen, South Africa - AFAN
Workshop 3:
16:10 – 16:55 Ethics; The Role of Genetics in Neurological Disorders: Implications for African Populations
Neurogenetic Case Presentations
Imen Kacem, Tunisia – AFAN
Riadh Gouider, Tunisia – AFAN
Day 3
Saturday, 29 November 2025
Topic 7: Advances in Dementia: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management in Africa
Chairs: Steven Lewis and Jeremy Tanner
09:00 – 09:25 Challenges in Early Detection and Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease in Resource-Limited Settings
Riadh Gouider, Tunisia - AFAN
09:25 – 09:50 The Role of Neuroimaging in Early Diagnosis and Monitoring of Dementia
Jeremy Tanner, USA - AAN
09:50 – 10:15 Potential Treatable Causes of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Africa
Raj Kalaria, UK
10:15 – 10:45 Coffee break
Topic 8: Headaches
Chairs: TBA
10:45 – 11:10 CNS demylinating disorders in Africa
Muaz Elsayed, Sudan – AFAN
11:10 – 11:35 Management of Acute Headeaches (Secondary Headaches: Identifying Red Flags and Underlying Causes in Africa When to Act Fast and How to Manage Acute Cases)
Percy T. Kumire, Namibia - AFAN
11:35 – 12:00 Chronic Headaches: Long-Term Management Strategies, Preventative Treatment and Patient Education in Africa
Daniel Gams-Massi, Cameroon - AFAN
12:00 – 13:30 Lunch break
13:00 – 13:30 ...with Networking in Research
Osheik Seidi, Sudan - AFAN
Topic 9: Miscellaneous
Chairs: Riadh Gouider and Imen Kacem
13:30 – 13:55 Brain Health: a global and African perspective
Steven Lewis, USA – WFN
Lawrence Tucker, South Africa - AFAN
13:55 – 14:20 What can IGAP do for you, and what can you do for IGAP?
Jo Wilmshurst, South Africa - ILAE
Osheik Seidi, Sudan - AFAN
14:20 – 14:45 Panel Discussion: Strategies for neurology education in Africa and other resource limited environments
Moderator: Lawrence Tucker, South Africa
Melody Asukile, Zambia – AFAN
Jo Wilmshurst, South Africa - ILAE
Osheik Seidi, Sudan - AFAN
Workshop 1:
14:55 – 15:40 Neurological Exam Mastery: Practical Techniques for Accurate Diagnosis
Hands-on session to refine physical examination skills.
Steven Lewis, USA - WFN
15:40 – 16:10 Coffee break
Workshop 2:
16:10 – 16:55 Cases
Cases presented by participants and discussed with faculty
Steven Lewis, USA - WFN
Jo Wilmshurst, South Africa – AFAN
Jeremy Tanner, USA -AAN
Lawrence Tucker, South Africa – AFAN
17:00 – 17:30 Final Exam
Final exam with questions to self-test the learning from the 3 days
(participants bring their smart phone)
17:30 – 18:00 Closing remarks