|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Summary
The National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA) has highlighted the urgent need to address the neurological complications associated with HIV, unveiling the Brain Center in Ibadan as a major step forward. The centre aims to tackle increasing cases of neurological disorders in Nigeria, driven by non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes.
The Director General of the National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA), Dr Temitope Ilori, has emphasised the urgent need to address the neurological complications associated with HIV, despite the significant advancements in antiretroviral therapy (ART) that have improved life expectancy for people living with HIV (PLHIV).
Speaking at the launch of the Brain Center in Ibadan, which was themed, “Advancing Brain Health for Persons Living with HIV: A Call to Action,” Dr Ilori described the centre as a pivotal step toward providing specialised care to vulnerable populations.
“HIV can directly affect the brain, leading to conditions such as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders, strokes, epilepsy, and other neurological challenges,” Dr Ilori said in her keynote address. “If left untreated, these complications can severely impact a person’s quality of life, adherence to treatment, and overall mental well-being.”
She highlighted the multiple barriers Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) face, including limited access to brain health care, inadequate integration of brain health into HIV treatment programs, insufficient investment in research and training for healthcare professionals, and a lack of public awareness about the importance of brain health.
Speaking further, Dr Ilori declared the Brain Center a symbol of hope for a future where specialised neurological care is accessible to all.
“It reflects our shared commitment to building a healthcare system that prioritises every aspect of health, including the often-overlooked domain of brain health. For PLHIV, it represents a future where no one is left behind,” she said.
In her welcome address, Dr Temitope Farombi, a neurologist and a key force behind the establishment of the Brain Center, also described the facility as a beacon of hope, innovation, and excellence. She noted that neurological conditions in Nigeria are escalating, driven by non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes.
“Today, one in four Nigerians has hypertension, and one in six has diabetes. These conditions are major contributors to neurological disorders, such as strokes, which are increasingly affecting younger individuals under the age of 25,” Dr Farombi revealed.
She warned of a looming crisis, predicting that by 2030, Nigeria will experience a threefold increase in neurological conditions, including epilepsy, headaches, depression, and other mental health disorders. She called for stronger government support in retaining trained professionals and enacting policies to address this growing burden.
“This centre is our way of giving back to society,” Dr Farombi said. “We are committed to supporting patients with neurological disorders to recover and reintegrate into society.”
Representing the chairperson of the occasion, Senator Sarafadeen Alli, Dr Saka Adewunmi commended the Brain Center as a state-of-the-art facility and a model for innovative healthcare solutions in Nigeria. He called for its replication across the country, emphasising its potential to revolutionise healthcare delivery.
