Hi there
This article below is one of the most enjoyable articles I have read recently. It relates to my earlier post and a start in the need to document the state of affairs in Neurosurgery. We do need to define where we are, the problems facing us and then we can form a pressure group to benchmark the changes required. This article is a welcome addition to the literature. Biodun
Neurosurgery in Nigeria--an evaluation of the perception of health personnel in a new centre and a comparison of the Nigerian situation with that of other African states.
Emejulu JK.
Department of Surgery, Nnamdi Azikiwe University & Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.
CONCLUSION: Neurosurgical service in Nigeria is grossly inadequate both in availability and quality, and these have resulted from bad government policies. It is therefore of utmost necessity that services and training be urgently provided in this specialty, at least in the tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
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Publications online
ReplyDeleteThis is a very useful resource online to keep track of your publications. It makes for easy access and searching. Please visit the page I have created and perhaps we can create one as a group (Nigerian Neurosurgeon publications.
http://publicationslist.org/biodun-ogungbo
Biodun
Views on African neurosurgery
ReplyDeleteEl Khamlichi A.
Department of Neurosurgery, Hĵpital des Spécialités, Rabat Instituts, Morocco. fh2nch@iam.net.ma
The beginning of a new millennium causes us to reflect on the state of neurosurgery in the African countries and to affirm that we are eager to provide quality health care for our people.
One of the main observations is the need for organization and structured training.
Another weakness is the lack of medicosurgical equipment. Poor funding and a lack of resources are responsible for this situation.
CONCLUSION: Overcoming these problems will require that African neurosurgeons target a number of priorities, i.e., devising local training programs and obtaining the necessary equipment.
We appeal to national and international institutions to focus on these two points to ensure long-term results, including greater involvement of African countries in local training and greater cooperation in terms of technical support and funding.
A survey conducted among African neurosurgeons shows that there are now 500 neurosurgeons in Africa; that is, one neurosurgeon for 1,350,000 inhabitants, and 70,000 km2.
The distribution of these neurosurgeons shows a striking regional disparity: North Africa has 354 neurosurgeons for 119 million inhabitants; that is, one neurosurgeon for 338,000 inhabitants; and South Africa has 65 neurosurgeons for 40 million inhabitants; that is, one neurosurgeon for 620,000 inhabitants.
Between these two areas where neurosurgery is developing quite well, we have the majority of African countries with a scant density of neurosurgeons (81 neurosurgeons for 515 million inhabitants; that is, one neurosurgeon for 6,368,000 inhabitants).
Two systems have unequal quality and specific difficulties that are pointed out. Among the optimistic elements that make us believe in the development of neurosurgery in Africa, are the existence of a quite good level of neurosurgery at the two extremities of the continent (North Africa and South Africa), the development of neurosciences in African universities, and the increasing interest that the international community bears to Africa in the last years.
However, the real factor of optimism is the African neurosurgeons who should promote neurosurgery in their continent, at the level of their own countries by developing information and health education, setting their specialty in the education syllabus and health planning, and settling into active and performing societies.