A medical expert, Professor Edward Komolafe, says the development of brain surgery is a non-negotiable requirement for national development and to bridge the increasing access gap to neurosurgical care in Nigeria.
Professor Komolafe said this in his keynote address entitled “Neurosurgery in Nigeria: Can We Bridge the Gap with the Advanced Nations and Economies” at the opening of the 2024 Nigerian Academy of Neurological Sciences (NANS) conference in Ibadan.
A book titled “Gorgeous Hues of Twin Bright Colours: Matthew Temitayo Shokunbi and Adefolarin Obanishola Malomo—Unforgettable Legacies” was presented to commemorate the retirement of Professors Shokunbi and Malomo, who are regarded as titans of neurosurgery in Nigeria, in front of neurosurgeons from different countries of the world.
Komolafe, a neurosurgeon at the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, said despite the fact that one in three people worldwide suffer from surgical neurological conditions that, if left untreated, can cause illness and disability, Nigeria, like many other African nations, lags far behind in neurological care.
According to him, Nigeria and other developing nations have not seen the same quick advancements and discoveries in neurosurgery as industrialised nations, which have resulted in a large gap in neurological treatment.
He claims that there are currently fewer than 200 neurologists working in Nigeria, four neurological beds for every million Nigerians, few neurosurgeon training facilities, and a lack of neurosurgery support specialists such as pain management specialists and interventional neuroradiologists.
“Neurological care is capital-intensive globally. The decades of poor funding have significantly widened the gap in neurosurgical care between Nigeria and other developed countries. Other challenges and limitations are poor healthcare planning, wrong referrals and late presentations, none or inadequate health insurance, and brain drain.
“The next equalisation attempt requires resolute, selfless national leadership, decimation of corruption at all levels, an improved private sector-driven healthcare system, subspecialitytraining, and institutional collaborations, among other things.
“Neurosurgery in Nigeria has witnessed tremendous development. Bridging the gap between Nigeria and advanced nations in neurosurgery is challenging but achievable. Bringing the discussion on these disparities to the forefront is essential in working towards bridging the gap.
“The efforts of the private sector should be encouraged; advocacy and improvisation are important ways to make significant improvements within the current limitations, and key areas of focus should include increasing government investment in infrastructural and manpower development, sub-specialitytraining capacity, formulation of online regional/national research databases, and international collaborations.”
Professor Babatunde Salako, the event’s chairman and former director general of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), stated that Professor Shokunbi and Professor Malomohad been at the forefront of developing a strong neurosurgery residency program that has produced more than 160 neurosurgeons for Nigeria, thereby raising the standard of neurosurgical training and practice in Nigeria.
“They have left behind not only a legacy of excellence in surgery but also a culture of empathy, integrity, and collaboration,” he added.
Professor Salako then charged neurosurgeons at the meeting to inspire one another, interrogate the status quo, and push the boundaries of what is possible in neurosurgical sciences, adding that there can never be a better time for this than now.
In response, Professor Adefolarin Malomo encouraged neurosurgeons to write about the pair’s impact on people’s lives by erasing tears and making people smile that have neurological disorders that require surgery.
Professor Temitayo Shokunbi noted that the two had influenced many lives during their careers and encouraged future neurosurgeons to do the same in order to further the medical discipline.
Earlier, Chief Medical Director of University College Hospital (UCH), Professor Jesse Otegbayo, represented by Professor Abiodun Adeoye, and Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetimobi, pledged their support to the growth of neurosurgical practice in Nigeria and the better health of Nigerians.
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