The 13th EAN Regional Teaching Course (RTC) took place in Douala, Cameroon on 20 October, a day prior to the 3rd AFAN (African Academy of Neurology) Congress. The overarching theme was ‘Working together is essential, even more so in challenging times’ and Prof. Yacouba Njankouo Mapoure, President of CAN (Cameroon Academy of Neurology), hosted the meeting together with Dr. Daniel Gams Massi.
The RTC was opened by Prof. Mapoure Njankuouo Yacube, Dr. Augustina Charway-Felli, President of AFAN, Prof. Paul Boon, President of EAN, Prof. Wolfgang Grisold, President of the WFN (World Federation of Neurology) and Prof. Riadh Gouider, delegate of PAUNS (Pan Arab Union of Neurological Societies).
The RTC was very well attended. Sixty-seven colleagues from Cameroon joined 28 invited residents, representing 20 sub-Saharan countries.
The RTC addressed the following topics:
- Neuro-infections in Sub-Saharan Africa – in children and adults
- Child Neurology in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Neurodegenerative diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa: dementia, movement disorders and stroke
Professors Paul Boon and Riadh Gouider chaired the morning session dedicated to Neuro-infections in Sub-Saharan Africa – in children and adults, which covered the following four topics. Dr David Garcia Azorin (Spain/EAN) addressed‘Neuro-Covid – short & long term’; Prof. Erich Schmutzhard gave the second lecture on ‘Acute Bacterial Meningitis’; the third lecture by Dr Imen Kacem (Tunisia/PAUNS) dealt with ‘Viral and Auto-immune Encephalitides’;and Dr Ariane Soldatos (USA/AAN) finished this morning session with ‘Mycobacterial and fungal infections of the CNS’.
After a lively discussion and a short break, Dr. Augustina Charway-Felli (Ghana/AFAN) together with Prof. Erich Schmutzhard (Austria/EAN) chaired the topic Child Neurology in Sub-Saharan Africa. Dr Charles Hammond (Ghana/AFAN) talked about ‘Epilepsy in children’ and the paediatric neurologist Prof. Angelina Kakooza (Uganda/AFAN/ILAE) informed participants about why ‘Child-neurology is more than cerebral palsy: an overview beyond epilepsy’.
The morning presentations were followed by Grand Round clinical case discussions chaired by Prof. Kuate Callixte (Cameroon). The floor was actively involved in solving the Grand Round cases presented.
Neurodegenerative diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa: dementia, movement disorders and stroke were addressed in the afternoon session of the RTC, chaired by Prof. Ali Shalash (Egypt/ MDS) and Prof. G. Roman (USA/WFN). Prof. Raj Kalaria (UK/Kenya/IBRO) spoke about ‘Dementia’, highlighting the many factors that can help to prevent this devastating disease entity, its prevalence being on a sharp increase also in Sub-Saharan Africa. Prof. Ali Shalash (Egypt/MDS) addressed‘Movement disorders’ in view of the demographic evolution of Sub-Saharan Africa, also this set of chronic illnesses is seen more and more frequently. Prof. Paul Boon (Belgium/EAN) spoke about ‘Epileptic seizures in stroke, dementia and movement disorders’ with specific reference to the African continent. Dr Daniel Gams Massi (Cameroon/AFAN) lectured on ‘Environmental and nutritional risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases in SSA’. ‘Environmental and nutritional risk factors for atherosclerosis, stroke and vascular dementia’ were presented by Prof. Gustavo Roman (USA/WFN).
A second Grand round clinical case presentation was brought by Prof. Mapoure Yacouba (Cameroon/CAN) and involved the faculty and all the participants.
The RTC ended at 5.00pm and Prof. Boon and Dr A. Charway-Felli gave some closing words. It was a great pleasure to meet again in person after last year’s virtual meeting.
Ready to go 
Audience members 
Q&A Session 1 
Q&A Session 
Coffee break 
Dr A. Charway Felli & Dr Ch. Hammond (Ghana – AFAN) 
Exam in progress 
Enjoying opportuities to socialise 
Prof. A. Kakooza (Uganda) 
Prof. Lawrence Tucker – AFAN 
Prof. S. El Sadig (Sudan) & Dr A. Charway Felli (Ghana – AFAN) 
Sudanese delegation with EAN President, Prof. Paul Boon 
Prof. A. Gallo Diop (Senegal) & Prof. R. Gouider (Tunisia – PAUNS) 
Prof. G Roman (WFN)
