This March, we celebrate the annual World Sleep Day to promote sleep health.
This year’s theme is: “Sleep Well, Live Better.”

Sleep is essential for many aspects of life, including mental and physical health, work productivity, academic performance, and overall well-being.

Quality sleep helps improve mood, concentration, memory, and the ability to cope with stress. Conversely, a lack of sleep can increase the risk of mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, as well as physical illnesses.

Studies on sleep health in the general populations of Sub-Saharan Africa are limited. Studies conducted in a few countries and among specific populations (adolescents and individuals living with diabetes or HIV/AIDS) show that between 12% and 49% of these populations suffer from sleep-related disorders (Ahinkorah et al., 2021, https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9020234; Melse et al., 2024, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-68074-7)

On the occasion of World Sleep Day, we advocate for

• Raising public awareness about the importance of sleep,
• Promoting healthy sleep habits,
• Supporting more research and prevention efforts related to sleep!