Nigeria to experience three times burden of brain disorders by 2030 – Neurologist

…says one of four to six Nigerians has hypertension, diabetes

Nigerians are projected to experience three times the current burden of brain disorders by 2030, Temitope Farombi a Consultant Neurologist at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has warned.

According to Farombi, one in four persons in Nigeria has hypertension and one in six persons have diabetes, so in the next five years, Nigeria would experience three times neurological conditions such as epilepsy, stroke, headache, insomnia, depression, and mental health disease.

Farombi, who is a PhD holder in Global Health from the University of West London, stated this during the inauguration of her Neuro-critical and Neuro-rehabilitation service hospital in Ibadan, called Brain Centre.

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The Brain Centre founder said, “We are here to support everyone with neurological disorders to recover and be reintegrated into the society. By 2030, Nigeria will experience three times the neurological conditions we currently have, like epilepsy, stroke, headache, insomnia, depression, and mental health diseases.

“I have been trained abroad. So, I know we have the talent. We need government support to enact policies that will retain our best hands. I decided to stay back to provide for the community support, having been trained by the government for over 20 years. This is us giving back to society and giving back to the Government.”

While describing the inauguration as a transformative moment in the history of healthcare in Nigeria, she noted that the facility stands a beacon of hope, innovation and excellence, committed to improving the lives of patients with neurological disorders.

“The Centre is more than a hospital but a hub for cutting-edge treatments, compassionate care, impactful research and a place where lives of patients and their families will be transformed, hope be restored, and where innovation will lead the way in tackling challenges of brain health.

“The brain centre stands as a beacon of hope, innovation, and excellence committed to improving the lives of patients with neurological disorders. In Nigeria today, one in four persons has hypertension and also one in six persons have diabetes In Nigeria, These are major non-communicable diseases that are driving neurological conditions in Nigeria”, she added.

Temitope Ilori, the NACA DG, in her keynote address, described the hospital as a game changer, saying it would bridge a critical gap in Nigeria’s healthcare system by addressing neurological emergencies and support the long term recovery of patients with complex neurological conditions.

“The world-class facility is capable of addressing brain health for all Nigerians particularly for Persons Living with HIV(PLHIV). She said the hospital would transform lives and elevate the standard of healthcare in Nigeria.

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“The Brain Centre symbolises hope for a future where specialized care is accessible to all. It reflects our shared commitment to building a healthcare system that prioritizes every aspect of health, including the often-overlooked domain of brain health.

“For PLHIV, the Brain Centre represents a future where no one is left behind, where every individual can live a life of dignity and purpose, regardless of the challenges they face’’, the DG said.