Category: Health

….seek massive public awareness campaign 

Experts and advocates have called for urgent government intervention in brain health care, citing growing public ignorance, late diagnoses, and the prohibitive costs of treatment. 

This emerged in Abuja on Tuesday during a World Brain Tumour Day commemorative joint press conference by Brain and Spine Foundation Africa in collaboration with the National Hospital, where leading neurosurgeons and health campaigners underscored the need for a national brain health policy backed by dedicated funding and widespread awareness campaigns.

Dr. Uthman Uthman, a neurosurgeon at the National Hospital, speaking on behalf of Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon Dr. Mansur Idris, in his Keynote address, titled ‘Hope in the Midst of Tumour: Advances in Care and Survivorship’, revealed that brain tumours account for up to 25 percent of all neurosurgical cases in Nigeria, cutting across all age groups. 

He warned that the growing burden remains underreported due to cultural misconceptions and limited diagnostic access. 

“Many Nigerians associate seizures or behavioural changes with spiritual attacks. Some cases are discovered only by chance during scans for unrelated issues,” he said. 

Dr. Uthman emphasized that although not all brain tumours are malignant, even benign ones can cause severe complications if untreated. 

He noted that early diagnosis is critical but often missed because of low public awareness and limited access to advanced imaging tools like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

While applauding the recent launch of high-end facilities such as the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja, which now hosts advanced diagnostic tools like Tesla MRIs and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans, Dr. Uthman warned that these services remain financially inaccessible to most Nigerians. 

“Diagnosis is crucial, but it is expensive. Even when part of the cost is covered by insurance, the remaining expenses often overwhelm families. Treatment involves more than just surgery, it includes radiology, pathology, oncology, and in many cases, lifelong follow-up,” he said. 

He also stressed the need for government-backed financial support mechanisms similar to existing cancer treatment initiatives.

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Highlighting the psychological toll on patients and caregivers, Dr. Uthman called for a coordinated public health response, saying, “We need a national conversation about brain health. 

“It’s not enough to have the experts and some of the equipment; if people can’t access or afford care, it makes no difference”. 

He also urged investment in medical research to better understand the biology and behaviour of brain tumours, warning that without such studies, treatment innovations would remain out of reach.

Echoing this urgency, Executive Director of Brain and Spine Foundation Africa, Engr. Chika Okwuolisa, said brain tumours and neurological diseases have become a silent national crisis. 

“Brain tumour is in a world of its own. Without information, patients are disempowered, and caregivers are helpless. Our healthcare system is not yet designed to accommodate the financial and emotional weight that these conditions impose on families,” she said. 

Recounting her own experience supporting her sister’s treatment, Okwuolisa said she had to beg from house to house to raise funds. “I’ve lived through the nightmare. It was like walking through death itself. That’s why we need the government to step in. This should not be a private struggle.”

She called for a national brain health policy that will scale up public education, expand access to diagnosis, train more neuro-specialists, and equip hospitals with advanced neurosurgical tools. 

“Brain health must be brought to the center of national health planning, just like cancer. These are equally devastating diseases.

“Brain health can no longer be sidelined. It is a public health emergency that demands urgent and sustained intervention from government, health institutions, and society at large.

“It’s time we stop treating brain health as a luxury. It is a right, and this summit is our way of saying enough is enough,” Okwuolisa said.

Lamenting that many patients remain trapped in ignorance and stigmatization due to entrenched cultural myths, she said, “Some are still in prayer houses and traditional homes instead of hospitals. 

“Before you talk about statistics, you must create awareness. Information is empowerment,” she said. 

Her warning was echoed by Gen. Maurice Ezeoke (Rtd), former President of the International College of Surgeons, who also noted that cost is one of the main barriers preventing people from seeking or continuing treatment.

A senior Oncology nurse at the National Hospital Ekeinyi Adedayo, who gave an awareness talk during the event, advised Nigerians to be alert to lifestyle risks and early signs of brain tumours, particularly persistent headaches that don’t respond to treatment. 

“Regular check-ups and prompt medical attention can make all the difference. Prevention and early diagnosis are key,” she said.

The event also featured testimonies from survivors and caregivers. 

Stephanie Acka, who has cared for her sister Jessica since her diagnosis in 2021, described the immense emotional and financial burden her family has endured. 

She recounted how public donations helped them raise over ₦10 million for surgery in India, but the financial pressure did not end there. 

According to her, post-surgery treatment includes medications and radiation therapy, with just one injection costing N1.2 million every month for six months. 

“Even for wealthy families, this is a huge cost. I’ve turned into a beggar just to keep my sister alive,” she said. 

She pleaded with the government to provide subsidies for brain tumour treatment so that families like hers can access care without facing financial ruin.