Spine, brain diseases causing more deaths than cancers, HIV, Ebola, COVID_Prof. Ndubuisi

A professor of Neurosurgery at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Chika Ndubuisi, on Thursday, disclosed that spine and brain diseases are causing more deaths than cancers, Human Immune Virus, HIV, Ebola and COVID among others.

While delivering the 41st Inaugural Lecture of the University at the capacity filled auditorium at ESUT College of Medicine,Park lane Enugu, Prof Ndubuisi noted that over 6.8 million patients died of neurological diseases in 2009 globally, stressing that early presentation of patients for medical investigation remains a panacea for effective management and treatment of neurological cases.

Prof Ndubuisi whose lecture topic dwelt on “Preventing the Paralysis Paradox in Our Nervous and Medical System: Identifying Problems, Igniting Progress,”
identified untreated brain tumor as a leading cause of paralysis, blindness, convulsions, headache, personality changes and coma in children and adults.

The Professor of Neurosurgery, further stated that spinal cord, head injuries and strokes happen frequently in our body system on a daily basis, resulting in loss of lives and huge economic burden for our society.

He stated that the financial burden imposed on families with cases of spinal cord injuries is estimated at $12,000 in our sub-region.

Prof Ndubuisi bemoaned lack of serious efforts at the national level to initiate interventions in terms of advocacy, research funding and prioritisation of these life-threatening neurological diseases during budget allocation.

He further stressed that Neurosurgery would develop faster if accorded a full departmental status in universities and hospitals in Nigeria.

“We have experienced that the practice of Neurosurgery could be jeopardized by lack of state-of-the-art equipment, including capacity for advanced critical care. This is an avoidable limitation which in no small measure affects the pattern and number of surgeries a centre can operate on,” he said.

He concluded that properly mid-wifed and regulated improvisation, collaboration and funding for clinical researches would help Nigeria in improving both the current equipment deficit, surgery load capacity and quality of neurological services.

In his remarks, the Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Peter Mbah, stated that the state government is making huge investments in healthcare in the state.

Governor Mbah who was represented by the Enugu State Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr. Felix Nnamani, stated that the state government has commenced construction of Type 3 hospitals in all the 260 electoral wards in the state, adding that there is an ongoing construction of an international hospital in the state as well.

He described the topic of the lecture as apt and enjoined the audience to present themselves for neurological investigations to avoid complications.

He equally lauded the Management of ESUT, led by Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, for her commitment in research and innovations in the University.

In his remarks during a media chat, the Vice Chancellor of ESUT, Professor Okolie, stated that the essence of frequent inaugural lectures in the University was to bring out research findings from different scholars in the institution for collaboration and commercialisation with industry players.

He said that the state government has invested heavily in procuring state-of-the-art equipment for ESUT, adding that the University would soon become medical tourism destination in South East.

He lauded the lecturer, stating that he had demystified all the myths surrounding neurological cases and highlighted the need for frequent medical investigations.

Also, in his remarks, the Chairman of the ESUT Inaugural Lectures Committee, Prof. Milletus Ezeamaenyi, commended the University Management for improving the visibility of the University through constant organization of inaugural lectures and stimulation of research and innovation in the University.