Revolutionizing stroke care in Africa: A mini review of the transformative potential of mobile stroke units.
Journal
Medicine
ISSN: 1536-5964
Titre abrégé: Medicine (Baltimore)
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 2985248R
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
03 Nov 2023
03 Nov 2023
Historique:
medline:
8
11
2023
pubmed:
7
11
2023
entrez:
7
11
2023
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Stroke is a major health concern worldwide, and its impact is particularly pronounced across Africa. This paper delves into the challenges faced in African stroke care and explores the significant potential benefits of mobile stroke units (MSUs) in mitigating these issues. Key challenges include the limited healthcare infrastructure, funding constraints, difficulties reaching remote and rural areas, and shortages of qualified healthcare professionals, especially neurologists and stroke specialists. To address these challenges, recommendations are provided, emphasizing the importance of infrastructure development, sustainable funding mechanisms, solutions for rural accessibility, and healthcare workforce development through training programs and incentives. Additionally, the paper discusses prospects for MSUs in Africa, highlighting the potential for technology advancements to yield more cost-effective and compact MSU models. The integration of telemedicine capabilities within MSUs is examined to enhance communication with specialist physicians at remote hospitals, ultimately improving stroke care outcomes. Furthermore, data collection on MSU outcomes and their impact on stroke care is emphasized to inform evidence-based policies and enhance MSU operations. Collaboration and partnerships between governments, healthcare organizations, and international stakeholders are critical for facilitating MSU expansion. These partnerships can provide essential funding, expertise, and support for the implementation and sustainable operation of MSUs in Africa.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37933014
doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000035899
pii: 00005792-202311030-00046
pmc: PMC10627687
doi:
Types de publication
Review
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
e35899Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose.
Références
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