CONTRIBUTORS
Diama Diop Dia Djigo
Senior Communication Officer
April 11 marks World Parkinson’s Disease Day, which provides an opportunity to shed light on this neurodegenerative condition that remains far too often overlooked, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. While non-communicable diseases are gradually gaining attention in African health systems, Parkinson’s disease remains at the margins of public discourse. Yet, with the progressive aging of the population, this silent reality is becoming a major public health concern.
Sub-Saharan Africa is undergoing a demographic transition. Life expectancy is steadily increasing, and the proportion of people aged 60 and above continues to rise. This shift comes with an epidemiological transition marked by a growing burden of non-communicable chronic diseases, including Parkinson’s disease. These conditions are often long-term, disabling, and costly, generating specific care needs that health systems are not yet fully equipped to address.
Parkinson’s disease affects approximately 1 to 2 percent of individuals over the age of 60 worldwide. According to projections, the number of people impacted will double by 2040, from 6.9 million to 14 million. However, in sub-Saharan Africa, its prevalence appears significantly lower, often estimated between 0.1 and 0.2 percent. This disparity is largely due to the lack of reliable data, underreporting of cases, limited access to diagnostic services, and the frequent confusion between Parkinson’s symptoms and the natural signs of aging. In many communities, the manifestations of Parkinson’s disease are perceived as a normal consequence of aging or are linked to spiritual beliefs. The use of traditional medicine or religious healers is still widespread and often serves as the first point of care. This trend delays access to appropriate medical treatment, worsens disease progression, and severely impacts the quality of life of those affected.
One of the major barriers to better care for Parkinson’s disease in Africa is the absence of updated and localized epidemiological data. Without reliable data, health systems cannot plan adequately, allocate appropriate resources, or design targeted interventions. This statistical void leads to underestimating the actual disease burden, delayed diagnosis, inadequate training of health professionals, and the lack of specific public policies. In many countries, specialized services are scarce, often concentrated in capital cities, and largely inaccessible to most of the population. Moreover, treatments remain expensive, limited, or ill-adapted even when available. These factors deepen inequalities in access to care and contribute to the marginalization of older people living with Parkinson’s disease.
In response to this situation, the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is conducting research in Senegal and Kenya to document Parkinson’s disease within African contexts. These efforts aim to estimate the prevalence of the disease, understand social perceptions of the disease, assess health professionals’ knowledge, and identify barriers to quality care. They also aim to evaluate the social network of these elderly people, as this disease requires emotional and financial support from those around them. These research initiatives adopt a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data to accurately reflect the complexity of local realities. The goal is clear: to produce high-quality local evidence to inform public policy, strengthen health system capacity, and guide appropriate interventions.
In Senegal, the study conducted in the Bambilor commune provides critical insights into the perception, experience, and management of Parkinson’s disease among older adults. Preliminary findings indicate that the disease remains widely misunderstood, often perceived as a natural consequence of aging or interpreted through spiritual or cultural beliefs, which delays diagnosis and access to medical care. The research reveals major gaps in health coverage, particularly for older individuals living in economically vulnerable households. Many reports limited access to health services, low insurance coverage, and an overall lack of information about neurodegenerative conditions. Frontline healthcare workers, traditional healers, and community actors, typically the first points of contact, have limited training or awareness of Parkinson’s disease, making early detection challenging. The study also identifies how factors like advanced age, poverty, and low literacy contribute to underdiagnosis and delayed care. It calls for targeted capacity-building, inclusive awareness campaigns, and the development of locally adapted care pathways. These findings will serve to inform national strategies aimed at improving recognition, service delivery, and long-term care for those living with Parkinson’s disease in Senegal.
In Kenya on the other hand, awareness of Parkinson’s disease remains limited, with symptoms often confused with normal aging or attributed to unspecified conditions. To address this issue, APHRC, through its study, is seeking to identify effective detection tools for primary healthcare settings, document available management services, and understand obstacles to quality care. The study’s end goal is to provide evidence-based recommendations to guide government interventions for improving Parkinson’s care. Preliminary results indicate that most primary healthcare facilities lack the capacity to detect and manage the disease. Critical deficiencies in the healthcare system, like treatment guidelines, exist in only 5% of primary healthcare facilities, and essential medications are available in just 2%. Ideally, Parkinson’s disease requires management by neurologists, but with approximately 20 neurologists in Kenya, primarily based in urban centers, care typically falls to less specialized healthcare workers without sufficient training in diagnosis and treatment.
Beyond data collection, APHRC advocates for a comprehensive, inclusive, and evidence-driven response to Parkinson’s disease in Africa. There is an urgent need to strengthen the training of health professionals, community-based actors, and traditional healers to improve early identification and patient support; Develop culturally sensitive awareness campaigns to reduce stigma and promote early diagnosis; Establish specific public policies addressing neurodegenerative diseases, supported by dedicated budget allocations to ensure adequate care for aging populations ; Foster synergies among health system actors, through well-structured coordination and referral mechanisms.
World Parkinson’s Disease Day is a key moment to remind all stakeholders that this condition must no longer remain in the shadows. Africa now has the opportunity to anticipate the challenges associated with population aging and to build a healthcare response that is equitable, inclusive, and truly human-centered.
Parkinson Disease 2025 French Blog