Brain health experts are seeking better ways of proactively addressing the risk factors of neurological diseases.
They are emphasising the importance of early detection, effective management, and prevention strategies to greatly reduce the burden of neurological disorders.
Neurological disorders is a significant contribution to disability, affecting the brain & nervous system.
Conditions like epilepsy, stroke, dementia, head injuries and Parkinson disease can be managed with medicines.
But the world health organisation says access to essential neurological medicines are often unaffordable and unavailable especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Chika Okowuesi has been an advocate for brain health since becoming a care giver to her sister who suffered from a brain injury.
Experts say a substantial proportion of these cases can be prevented.
With 90 percent of strokes; 75 percent of head injuries; 40 percent of dementia and 30 percent of epilepsies are preventable with effective prevention measures.
But despite being preventable, over 75 per cent of people in low-income countries and 50 per cent in middle-income countries cannot access these life-changing medicines this is according to the world health organisation.
To increase access to essential neurological medicines, the world health organisation is supporting countries to tackle stigma, increase supply of medicines, reduce cost of essential medicines, scale up health workforce and training
These experts say this is what is needed to improve care for people who have neurological disorders alongside prevention.
This year’s theme of the world brain day seeks to raise awareness on the critical importance of brain health and to focus on strategies for preventing brain disorders
