Parkinson’s Africa Marks Five Years of Impact

Across Africa, people living with Parkinson’s disease are too often isolated by stigma, delayed diagnosis, and limited access to care. But on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, voices from across the continent came together with a shared message: no one should face Parkinson’s alone.

At our inaugural Virtual Town Hall, people living with Parkinson’s, care partners, healthcare professionals, advocates, researchers, and partners from across Africa and beyond gathered to reflect on five years of building a growing and connected ecosystem rooted in community, collaboration, and lived experience.

The launch of Parkinson’s Africa’s 5-Year Impact Report highlighted our journey shaped by resilience, partnership, and a shared vision. Reflecting on the organisation’s growth and future direction, our Founder, Mrs Omotola Thomas, emphasised that the next phase will require bold thinking, stronger partnerships, and sustained investment in local capacity, awareness, and care systems across the continent.

Experts from Transforming Parkinson’s Care in Africa (TraPCAF), including Professor Richard Walker and Dr Natasha Fothergill-Misbah, reinforced the urgent need for improved early detection, diagnosis, and access to care. As Community Engagement and Involvement (CEI) lead for TraPCAF across seven African countries, Parkinson’s Africa continues to ensure that people affected by Parkinson’s disease actively shape conversations around care, research, advocacy, and policy.

Collaboration and partnerships emerged as a powerful recurring theme throughout the event. Speakers including Laeeqa Sujee (Phila Sonke Wellness Initiative, South Africa) and John Akinola (Adewunmi Desalu Parkinson’s Foundation, Nigeria) reflected on the importance of collaboration in raising awareness, strengthening community support, and advancing research that reflects Africa’s unique realities and healthcare challenges. Community-led initiatives such as Walking Football Parkinson’s Disease (WFPD) Tournament also demonstrated how locally rooted solutions can improve wellbeing, encourage inclusion, and help reduce isolation for people living with Parkinson’s disease.

Throughout the town hall, personal stories grounded discussions in lived reality. Individuals affected by Parkinson’s and care partners shared experiences of delayed diagnosis, stigma, caregiving, resilience, and finding support within their communities. Their stories served as a reminder that behind every statistic is a person, a family, and a community navigating the daily realities of Parkinson’s disease.

As Parkinson’s disease continues to rise across Africa, the path forward will depend not only on stronger healthcare systems but also on communities willing to listen, support, advocate, and act together. The past five years have shown what is possible when people unite around shared humanity and shared purpose.

Missed the live session or want to revisit the conversations? Watch here.

This post has been tagged with: #Events

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