A consultant neurologist, Dr Temitope Farombi, has called on Nigeria to urgently prioritise the prevention of neurological disordersneurological disorders, warning that the country is spending huge sums treating conditions
that could have been avoided through early intervention, public education, and improved health infrastructure.

Dr Farombi, a consultant neurologist at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan,University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, and founder of Brain Centre Neurological and Rehabilitation Services, spoke during activities marking the first anniversary of the Brain Centre in Ibadan. She was joined at the event by Esther Erigbemi Farinu and Samuel Oluwaseun Babalola.

The Brain Centre, launched in January 2025 as a one-stop neurological and rehabilitation facility, has treated over 160 neurological cases within its first year, reflecting the growing burden of brain-related conditions in the country.

According to Dr Farombi, many neurological disorders affecting Nigerians are largely preventable, yet government policies and healthcare investments remain skewed towards treatment rather than prevention. She listed conditions such as autism, stroke, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and traumatic brain injury as increasingly common and now among the leading causes of disability.

“Prevention is always cheaper and more effective than treatment,” she said. “A simple tetanus vaccine that costs a few hundred naira can prevent a disease that may require close to ₦2 million to treat, often with poor outcomes. The same applies to stroke and other neurological diseases.”

She explained that stroke prevention through routine medical checks and medications may cost between ₦10,000 and ₦15,000 monthly, while treating a stroke could demand ₦1 million to ₦2 million — a burden many families cannot afford in a system dominated by out-of-pocket payments.

Dr Farombi also highlighted the genetic component of some neurological conditions, particularly autism. She noted that individuals with a family history of autism may pass it down genetically, making premarital and pre-pregnancy genetic testing crucial. However, unlike sickle cell screening, genetic testing for autism risk remains expensive and largely inaccessible.

“This is where government intervention is critical,” she said. “Affordable genetic testing, quality antenatal care, and early specialist referrals during pregnancy can prevent avoidable complications.”
Beyond medication, she emphasised the importance of non-pharmacological interventions, especially social prescription, which involves structured activities such as gardening, exposure to green spaces, dancing, music, and travel. According to her, scientific evidence now shows that environmental and social factors significantly influence brain function and disease outcomes.

“For patients with dementia or Parkinson’s disease, dancing, music, and social engagement can improve movement, mood, and awareness,” she said, lamenting that many patients are confined indoors and isolated from social or religious activities, which worsens their condition.

On government responsibility, Dr Farombi noted that Nigeria’s health insurance coverage remains below 10 per cent, while essential neurological drugs are often unavailable or unaffordable. She revealed that some patients with conditions such as multiple sclerosis spend up to ₦500,000 per treatment session.

She also decried the lack of advanced neurological treatments and community-based rehabilitation centres, stressing that rehabilitation services should be accessible within communities, not limited to hospitals.
“Neurological conditions are the leading cause of disability globally,” she warned. “Without strong prevention strategies, drug availability, rehabilitation services, and public education, Nigerians will continue to spend millions treating diseases that should never have occurred.”