Chika Okwuolisa
Brain and Spine Foundation, Africa
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Neurol Neurophysiol
Itâ??s a common knowledge that Africa has the least neurological services and African neurologists and neurosurgeons cannot match the rapid progress in the developed world. And this I write with extreme sadness. As the founder of The Brain and Spine Foundation Africa, it is no gain saying the fact I am coming from a background of diametric ramifications of health emergencies- ours is a harrowing experience and indeed, a sordid reality that no one can be proud of. Prominent among the challenges in the Nigerian health sector for example, is the escalation of various degrees of neurological emergencies. The world, especially European and American institutions/organizations must rise to this urgency, and bring their technological edges to bear on this very challenging bracket, vis-Ã -vis the deployment of alleviative fiscal policies. Brain and Spine Foundation, Africa is from the grassroots; we are close to these unfortunate ones who are going through agonies everyday, never as a result of any fault of theirs. We hear their cries everyday, we see their despairs, because the cost of treatment is usually beyond their reach or there is no Neurospecialist available to attend to them. We render our helps which are usually grossly inadequate. Most importantly, we stay by their sides intentionally to be available for them, and serve as psychological reinforcements for their survival instincts. We watch them die sometimes owing to the lack of adequate facility for treatment and precarious volume of resources available to us, which often empty into paucity sooner or later. Neurological disorders as we all know are associated with high mortality, prolonged hospital stay and socioeconomic burden for the families. Unfortunately, in Sub-Saharan African countries, thereâ??s a huge disconnect between where disease is and where experts are. We need you, most especially those of African descents to come and help us make changes to our national policies that could help our people. We need your help in working to build up the resources and networks necessary to conduct clinical trials in Africa, and to create education and training programs for health care providers and researchers. We as a Charity Organization are creating awareness, educating the public, providing support and hope, but we also work with the health care structure to ensure there are providers and treatment.
Chika Okwuolisa is the Founder and Executive Director of Brain and Spine Foundation, Africa. Brain & Spine Foundation (BSFA) is an operational registered non-Governmental Organisation (NGO). It was established it following a first-hand traumatic experience during a harrowing pathological Brain event that has changed their lives forever. BSFA is founded to create awareness on the burden of Brain and Spinal conditions and all the variants there are of these in Nigeria and Africa. We also focus on ways to prevent, manage and reduce the burden of these illnesses which thrive on the general ignorance of individuals.
E-mail: brainandspineafrica@gmail.com
