Renowned Neurologist Warns of Looming Brain Health Crisis in Nigeria
By Adewale Owoade
A Consultant Neurologist at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Dr. Temitope Farombi, has sounded the alarm on a looming brain health crisis in Nigeria.
According to Farombi, the country is projected to experience three times its current burden of brain disorders by 2030.
Farombi revealed that hypertension and diabetes, which affect one in four and one in six persons in Nigeria, respectively, are major drivers of neurological conditions.
She warned that the country will witness a significant increase in neurological conditions such as epilepsy, stroke, headache, insomnia, depression, and mental health diseases in the next five years.
Farombi made these remarks during the commissioning of her neuro-critical and neuro-rehabilitation service hospital in Ibadan, called Brain Centre.
The hospital is designed to provide cutting-edge treatments, compassionate care, and impactful research for patients with neurological disorders.
The Brain Centre founder described the facility as a “beacon of hope, innovation, and excellence” committed to improving the lives of patients with neurological disorders.
She emphasized the need for government support to enact policies that will retain Nigeria’s best medical talents.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by prominent Nigerians, including the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Chrisland University, Prof. Olatunde Farombi; the Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Temitope Ilori; and Senator Sharafadeen Alli.
In her keynote address, Dr. Ilori described the hospital as a “game-changer” that will bridge a critical gap in Nigeria’s healthcare system. She praised the facility’s capability to address brain health for all Nigerians, particularly those living with HIV.
Senator Alli, who was represented by Dr. Saka Adewunmi, commended the Brain Centre as a testament to collective efforts to bring world-class healthcare services to Ibadan. He urged the facility to serve as a model for innovative healthcare solutions in Nigeria and beyond.
