Medical experts and health advocates have renewed calls for a national policy on brain health. They are calling on the Federal Government to prioritise brain tumour care through increased funding, public education, and improved access to treatment.
The call was made during a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja to commemorate the 2025 World Brain Tumour Day, organised by the Brain and Spine Foundation Africa in partnership with the National Hospital.
Speaking, Dr Mansur Idris, the head of consultant Neurosurgeon, National Hospital, said brain tumours accounted for up to 25 per cent of all neurosurgical cases in the country.
Idris, who was represented by Dr Uthman Uthman, a neurosurgeon, delivered a keynote address titled “Hope amid Tumour: Advances in Care and Survivorship”.
He said that many Nigerians remained unaware of the early signs of brain tumours due to cultural misconceptions and a lack of awareness.
“Seizures or behavioural changes are often mistaken for spiritual attacks. Some cases are only discovered incidentally during scans for unrelated conditions,” he said.
The doctor said that while not all brain tumours were malignant, untreated benign tumours could also lead to life-threatening complications.
He said that Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and other diagnostic tools were either unavailable or unaffordable for most Nigerians.
Although he commended new facilities like the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja, he noted that advanced services such as Tesla MRI and PET scans remained financially out of reach for many.
“Treatment involves a multi-disciplinary approach, neurosurgery, radiology, pathology, oncology, and often lifelong follow-up.
“Without financial support, patients and their families are left overwhelmed,” Idris said.
He called on the government to replicate cancer care financing models for brain tumour patients and urged the inclusion of brain health in the national health agenda.
Ms Chika Okwuolisa, executive director of Brain and Spine Foundation Africa, described brain tumour as a “silent national crisis” and called for urgent intervention through policy, education, and funding.
“Brain health has long been relegated to the background. It is time to bring it to the centre of health discourse in Nigeria. Without information, patients are disempowered, and caregivers are helpless,” she said.
Recounting personal experience supporting a sibling diagnosed with a brain tumour, she said her family had to solicit funds publicly to commence treatment.
“I have lived through the nightmare. That is why I say brain health should not be a private struggle. It is a public health issue,” she said.
Okwuolisa also said that the upcoming African Neurological Health Summit was part of continued advocacy efforts to mainstream brain health in Africa’s health policy.
Retired Gen. Maurice Ezeoke, former President of the International College of Surgeons, also said that the cost of treatment was a key barrier for most patients.
Ezeoke advocated for subsidies and the inclusion of brain tumour care in national health insurance coverage.
Also speaking, Mrs Ekeinyi Adedayo, a senior oncology nurse at the National Hospital, urged Nigerians to pay attention to persistent symptoms such as chronic headaches, changes in vision, and seizures, saying early diagnosis improves survival chances.
“Regular check-ups and early medical attention can make all the difference. Brain health must be prioritised,” Adebayo said.
The event featured emotional testimonies from survivors and caregivers including Ms Stephanie Acka, whose sister was diagnosed in 2021.
Acka described how her family raised over N10 million through donations for surgery in India, yet she said the financial burden continued with monthly drug costs as high as N1.2 million.
“I have had to beg just to keep my sister alive. We need government support to reduce this suffering,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that World Brain Tumour Day, observed every June 8, is more than just a commemorative day.
It is a global call to action to address one of the most under-recognised, but devastating health conditions affecting populations worldwide.
With the theme for World Brain Tumour Day 2025, ‘Fighting Brain Cancer Together’, advocates across the globe are rallying for equity in brain care, research and survivorship.
(NAN)
