WFN Africa Initiative: Committee Guidelines and Mandate
The Africa initiative is a collective term used for describing various WFN activities related to the development of neurology in the African region. They comprise training of new neurologists, establishing educational programmes in neurology, supporting new national neurological associations, assistance in fund-raising for neurology in this part of the world, travelling fellowships, support of public health activities in sub-Saharan Africa and collaboration with WHO, EFNS and IBRO.
The WFN structural basis of the Africa initiative has two arms, the Task and Advisory Force for Africa (TAFNA) and the WFN Africa Committee (ACWFN).
TAFNA ("Friends of Africa") is chaired by the WFN President. The members are neuroscientists with a personal background in African medicine.
ACWFN consists of neurologists living and working in Africa. For French-speaking African countries, training of neurologists will mainly be in Senegal, Morocco and Tunisia, while training of neurologists from the English-speaking countries may be established in South Africa. The ACWFN shall therefore have members from French- and English-speaking sub-Saharan African countries. It is presently (2008) chaired by Amadou Gallo Diop (Senegal), Alfred Njamshi (Cameroon) and Beugre Kouassi (Ivory Coast).
The Task and Advisory Force for Africa Committee shall consist of the President, the First Vice-President, the Secretary-Treasurer General and the Chair, Education Officer and Treasurer of the WFN Africa Committee. This committee shall be empowered to act on behalf of the Council of Delegates between regular meetings of the Council and its decisions shall subsequently be reported to the Trustees.
Guidelines for TAFNA Committee:
- To conduct an annual review of the neurology training status in sub-Saharan Africa.
- To be responsible for securing any and all additional funds designed for development of neurology in Africa.
- To have a close relationship with the EFNS Africa Committee.
- To have a close relationship with the Pan African Association of Neurological Sciences.
- To make recommendations to the Regional Director for the Africa region.
- To make recommendations to the Trustees regarding future meetings and congresses.
Guidelines for the WFN Africa Committee:
- The ACWFN will have a close contact with the WFN Regional Director for the Africa region.
- The ACWFN is responsible for monitoring the status of neurology training in sub-Saharan Africa.
- The ACWFN shall collaborate with the PAANS.
- The ACWFN prepares a budget with the mandatory prioritization.