,,,Brain tumour accounts for 1/4 of Neurosurgical Cases
As Nigeria joins the global community to mark World Brain Tumour Day 2025, health experts are urging the Federal Government to establish a national brain tumour care policy. They call for increased funding, public education, and better access to diagnosis and treatment.
At a press conference in Abuja, organised by the Brain and Spine Foundation Africa and the National Hospital, experts stressed the urgency of the issue. Themed “Fighting Brain Cancer Together,” the event highlighted brain cancer’s growing impact and the need for collaborative solutions.
Dr. Uthman Uthman, representing Dr. Mansur Idris of the National Hospital, noted brain tumours now account for 25% of neurosurgical cases in Nigeria. He warned that many Nigerians mistake early symptoms for spiritual issues, leading to late diagnoses. Costly diagnostic tools like MRIs and PET scans remain out of reach for most, despite facilities such as the African Medical Centre of Excellence offering them.
He called for brain tumour care to be included in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and modeled after cancer care policies to improve affordability and access.
Ms. Chika Okwuolisa, Executive Director of Brain and Spine Foundation Africa, described brain tumours as a “silent national crisis,” calling for urgent policy reform and awareness. Sharing her family’s crowdfunding struggle for treatment, she emphasized that brain health must be treated as a national concern.
Retired Gen. Maurice Ezeoke echoed the need for government subsidies, while oncology nurse Mrs. Ekeinyi Adedayo urged Nigerians to take symptoms like seizures and chronic headaches seriously.
Survivor stories, including Ms. Stephanie Acka’s account of raising ₦10 million for her sister’s surgery and ongoing ₦1.2 million monthly drug costs, underscored the financial burden on families.
World Brain Tumour Day, observed every June 8, raises awareness of this often-overlooked condition. Advocates are pressing the Nigerian government to make brain health a public health priority and ensure affordable treatment for all.
