… outline proactive measures to prevent brain disorders

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate the 2024 World Brain Day, stakeholders have called for a collective commitment to proactive steps towards better brain health.

World Brain Day is an annual event observed on July 22 aimed at promoting awareness and education for neurological disorders that affect individuals. The day is dedicated to brain health and prevention.

Neurological disorders remain a significant contribution to disability adjusted life years, impacting health through conditions such as stroke,dementia, epilepsy,and head injuries.

Experts have said a substantial proportion of these casescan be prevented. Notably,90 percent of strokes;75 percent of head injuries;40 percent of dementia and 30 percent of epilepsies are preventable with effective prevention measures.

Speaking variously yesterday,at the World Brain Day Media Chat,organised by Brain and Spine Foundation Africa,with the theme:”Brain Health and Prevention-Protectijng our Future”,the stakeholders unanimously declared brain health as an urgent public health issue.

Brain and Spine Foundation Africa is an organisation dedicated to advancing research, raising awareness, and providing support for individuals and families affected by neurological conditions.

Speaking at the event,the Director General of Narional Senior Citizens Centre,NSCC,Dr Emem Omokaro,who was visibly elated over the foundation’s initiative to promote awareness and advocacy on brain health and prevention, disclosed that the centre would collaborate with the Brain and Spine Foundation to executing its mandate.

Omokaro who said the National Senior Citizens Centre was at the verge of organising
a capacity enhancement programme for stakeholders in the field of healthy aging just to stop the stereotype ,the prejudices and the discrimination against the older persons, informed that handlers of the foundation would also be needed as resource persons.

“I am happy to know this foundation and not long from now,we are going to roll out a capacity enhancement programme for stakeholders in the field of healthy aging just to stop the stereotype ,the prejudices and of course,the discrimination against the older persons,to promote equity and inclusion.

“And when we have the healthy aging programme and then encouraging those who are already old and those ones who are advancing into old age, to advance in health and wellbeing,I think we will need your partnership as well. So for that programme and that project,I think we can partner you as resource persons so that you can bring in the brain health aspect.

“I want to also let you know that the National Senior Citizens Centre works closely with Alzheimer Disease Association of Nigeria,ADAN. In fact,they sit in our council. We just set up for the first time,the Directorate of Social Care Sector Skills Council because we have made care of older persons a skill, working very closely with National Board for Technical Education,NBTE.

” We have developed the National Occupational Standard for training and certifying caregivers and have also selected the first batch of training providers which are 22 states and federal university teaching hospitals,so that they can train and we can now start certifying and building workforce to take care of our older persons.

“So part of the Nigerian Skill Qualification Framework is to set up the council. In that council,we have the Dimencia Care Society of Nigeria,represented.

And I also want to tell you that we are working closely with the stakeholders on this field and I am glad that you are here and that we have had this interaction. We can take it from here, because now,we have the National Policy on Aging which is quite a comprehensive document and we have operationalized the National Policy on Aging into the National Plan of Action on Aging and then Project Activities on Aging . We have also developed a ten-year strategic framework on aging .

“So,in looking at the National Action Plan on Aging,and in looking at the strategic roadmap that we designed,yes,we have healthy aging which is really there and represented there as a programme and brain health, especially dementia,given the social determinant of dementia and given the impact on the individuals,their families and their communities and given the need for attitudinal change,the behavioral change and to stop the discrimination I am talking about.Now,we have seen the need for a strategic plan on dementia.”

Speaking earlier, the Founder and Executive Director, Brain and Spine Foundation,Engr. Chika Okwuolisa, highlighted the vital importance of brain health and the proactive measures people can take to prevent brain disorders.

“Our brains are at the core of who we are—our thoughts, memories, emotions, and actions all originate here. Therefore, protecting and nurturing brain health is not just a medical priority but a fundamental aspect of our overall well-being,”she said.

Explaining why brain health matters,Engr.
Okwuolisa,who noted that brains are extraordinary organs that control every aspect of human lives, regretted that “neurological conditions such as strokes, brain tumors, and mental health disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent. “

“These conditions can profoundly impact individuals, families, and communities, making brain health an urgent public health issue,”she added.

She listed healthy lifestyle choices; mental health awareness;early detection and intervention; advocacy and support as key
Key to a healthy brain.

“On this World Brain Day, let us all commit to taking proactive steps towards better brain health. Educate yourself and others, adopt healthy lifestyle habits, support mental health initiatives, and advocate for those affected by neurological conditions.

“Together, we can build a future where brain health is a universal priority, and prevention is a shared responsibility,”she said.

Okwuolisa said her organisation believes that through collective efforts, “we can create a world where brain health is prioritized, and preventable brain disorders become a thing of the past.”