In Africa, the burden of both communicable and non-communicable central nervous system diseases is very high. To combat this, the Regional Teaching Course is organized every year – providing training and bringing together young neurologists in Sub-Saharan African countries.

The 10th Regional Teaching Course (RTC) in Sub-Saharan Africa was held in Antananarivo, Madagascar from 24 to 27 October 2018. RTC was organized by the European Academy of Neurology and supported by IBRO-African Regional Committee, African Academy of Neurology, World Federation of Neurology, American Academy of Neurology, International Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders Society, World Stroke Organisation, the University of Antananarivo and the Malagasy National Neurological Society.

More than 50 trainees, residents and young doctors from 15 Sub-Saharan African countries participated. They were supported by faculty from 11 different countries. The course was organized around three main themes: Epileptic seizures and epilepsy, movement disorders and neurodegenerative diseases; Stroke in SSA; and Infectious and inflammatory diseases of the nervous system.

Each day started with lectures and case presentations by invited trainees. In the afternoon students discussed clinical cases and various neuroimaging methods in workshops. Both the students and the faculty found these workshops to be particularly stimulating and enjoyable. The workshops provided the students the unique opportunity to ask questions relating to their own research or daily practice and to network with their peers. Each afternoon ended with an examination. All students passed all the examinations and received a diploma at the end of the course.

Courses like this are essential for the scientific development in Africa. As Faculty member Dr. Amadou Gallo Diop stressed: “this new generation of neurologists is very important, they can and must make a difference for Africa”.

The Local Organising Committee offered the participants a wonderful evening of Malagasy music, song and dance in which all were involved.

The 11th RTC will take place September 2019 in Accra, Ghana hosted by Dr. Augustina Charway-Felli.