Neurologists challenge people on their health

Experts and a non-governmental organisation are creating awareness that neuro-surgical patients can be helped if they go to hospital early, reports Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

Findings have shown that neurosurgical patients are not seeking   early medical attention due to myths, misconceptions and false/misleading belief systems and that is complicating their conditions.

Neurological Surgery is a discipline of medicine that provides the operative and non-operative management of disorders of the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems.This includes their supporting structures and vascular supply; the evaluation and treatment of pathological processes, which modify the function or activity of the nervous system, which  include the hypophysis and the operative and nonoperative management of pain.

Therefore, neurological surgery encompasses treatment of adult and pediatric patients with disorders of the nervous system: disorders of the brain, meninges, skull and their blood supply, including the extracranial carotid and vertebral arteries.These include disorders of the pituitary gland, disorders of the spinal cord and vertebral column, and those that may require treatment by spinal fusion or instrumentation.

According to a consultant neurosurgeon at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr Femi Bankole, it is high time patients accepted their health challenges on time and come to health facilities for solution  once and for all, because any delay  or   wishing the problem away or seeking solutions where there is none can  worsen the cases. “A neurosurgical condition refers to a disorder, which affects any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular system. We experts abound and are ever ready to treat patients, but they must come to the hospital to be attended to,” said Dr Bankole.

Dr Bankole, who stated this at the one-day enlightenment programme tagged: ‘Neurosurgery: Essence of early presentation’,  organised by Dele Arigbabu Neurosurgical Foundation (DANF), said many of the neurosurgical diseases can be cured but this  should be done quickly as most of them can be done here in Nigeria if detected on time.

Dr Bankole said: “The brain being a delicate place to perform surgery shouldn’t be left to suffer more if early presentation of the disease is detected. So the foundation is set up to raise fund for patients who needed immediate care and to further equip the unit to help more in doing their work in a better way. DANF is a foundation that is embraced universally and more Nigerians, corporate world and people should get involved to be able to support/render more services. The foundation is there for people to get involved, donate and partner with to enable address the problems the neurosurgical section faces.”

The foundation, according to him, is set up to focus on disease or condition of central nervous system, and to increase the awareness on the available treatment options currently in the country. It also intends raising fund to help patients, who are indigent or are in emergency to access care because if there is delay in treatment, the outcome may not be good even after treatment.

Dr Bankole, who is also a senior lecturer at the University of Lagos, and  Chairman, Board of Trustees for the Dele Arigbabu Neurosurgical Foundation (DANF) said DANF is a foundation that is embraced universally and more Nigerians, corporate world and people should get involved for it to be able to support/render more services. It is a Neurosurgery Foundation, a charitable, non-profit organisation dedicated to  promoting quality neurosurgical care to patients in Nigeria.

On the significance of the event, Dr Bankole said it was organised because experts realised that many Nigerians do not understand the importance of an adequate public enlightenment and have limited access to neurosurgical care.

He said neurosurgical diseases involve the brain and spinal cord and they are conditions that need immediate attention. “So, the thought of organising this meeting is to sensitise the public on the need to present early whatever is wrong in their body, especially the brain and the spinal cord, which are the most important parts of the body. They should seek the help of the medical personnel. The diseases or conditions are very common and they could be presented in the form of brain tumor, hydrocephalous, brain trauma and spine trauma,” explained Dr Bankole.

He said early prevention/checking is better than a ton of treatment. He advised that people should not wait until things get worse. He said these diseases could have no particular cause, but could be acquired. That is, they can be caused by an accident, trauma, turmoil or growth, serious back pain etc.

Dr Tayo Ojo, a neurosurgeon and   co-organiser of the foundation, said as experts,  they have now  realised that there is need to come to the aid of people suffering from such ailment, requiring neurosurgery services, but  unfortunately  are not well well informed or aware of such foundation.

He said:“So, we are bringing it to the awareness of the public to come and take advantage of this opportunity and urge Nigerians to  also join in   partnering  with the organisation.

“The foundation is to help people that don’t have money. Also children with brain tumour and adults in emergency situation at a time where they could not access their money, the Foundation is here to render help to them pending the time they will be able to access their money.

The foundation is to source for fund not only to help the patient but to be able to get necessary equipment in the department. It does not presently have to make life better for patients and the doctors alone, it will also be here to train doctors and nurses as well.”

Dr Ojo appreciated those, who have been partnering/supporting the foundation and sought more partners to support the foundation to make things easier in addressing all the neurosurgical challenges in the health system.