Every June 8, the world pauses to mark World Brain Tumour Day, but in Nigeria, the day comes and goes with little more than a whisper. Yet, for thousands of families across the country, brain tumours are not abstract clinical phenomena—they are a devastating reality marked by misdiagnosis, inaccessible care, financial ruin, and avoidable deaths. This year’s commemorative event in Abuja, jointly organised by the Brain and Spine Foundation Africa and the National Hospital, placed Nigeria’s brain health crisis under the spotlight once again—and the message from experts was urgent and unambiguous: brain tumours must be included in Nigeria’s health priority list.
Dr. Mansur Idris, Head of Consultant Neurosurgery at the National Hospital, speaking through his colleague Dr. Uthman Uthman, painted a grim picture. Brain tumours, he noted, constitute up to 25 percent of all neurosurgical cases in Nigeria. However, detection and intervention often come too late. In a country where seizures and personality changes are sometimes mistaken for spiritual attacks, awareness is not just low—it is dangerously absent. “Some cases are only discovered incidentally during scans for unrelated conditions,” Dr. Uthman said. “By then, options are limited, and families are already facing medical and financial crises.”
The broader challenge lies in what is clearly a systemic failure to prioritise brain health. While Nigeria has made progress in cancer care financing and HIV/AIDS response, brain tumour patients and their caregivers are still left to their own devices, often turning to crowdfunding or selling assets to afford surgeries and long-term treatment. That is the story of Ms Stephanie Acka, who described how her family raised over N10 million for surgery in India and continues to spend as much as N1.2 million monthly on medication. “I have had to beg just to keep my sister alive,” she said tearfully. Her story mirrors the silent suffering of many.
The Nigerian health system is riddled with inequalities, and brain tumour care exposes some of its deepest cracks. Even as modern facilities like the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) emerge in Abuja, many Nigerians still lack access to MRI or PET scans, let alone advanced treatment protocols requiring neurosurgery, oncology, radiology, pathology, and psychosocial follow-up. For the average Nigerian, these are luxuries, not options. What experts and advocates are demanding is not novel: a dedicated national brain health policy, government subsidies, insurance coverage, and a massive public education campaign to correct cultural myths and encourage early diagnosis. It is about mainstreaming brain health in the way HIV, tuberculosis, and maternal health have been integrated into Nigeria’s public health discourse.
This is what Ms Chika Okwuolisa, Executive Director of Brain and Spine Foundation Africa, passionately underscored. Calling brain tumours a “silent national crisis,” she warned that ignoring brain health has created an invisible burden that few policymakers recognise. “Without information, patients are disempowered, and caregivers are helpless,” she said. Hers is not a theoretical concern; she has lived the trauma firsthand, navigating a system that offers little support for brain tumour patients. Nigeria’s response to brain tumours should take cues from its handling of diseases like breast cancer and HIV. With the establishment of national registries, financing models, and treatment guidelines, these conditions have seen improved outcomes over the years. Brain tumours deserve similar attention.
Retired Gen. Maurice Ezeoke, former President of the International College of Surgeons, did not mince words: “The cost of treatment is the biggest barrier. Subsidies and insurance coverage must be part of the solution.” His suggestion that existing frameworks for cancer care be adapted for brain tumours is both practical and necessary. Moreover, Mrs Ekeinyi Adedayo, a senior oncology nurse, stressed that simple, consistent health messaging could help demystify symptoms like chronic headaches, seizures, and vision changes. “Regular check-ups and early medical attention can make all the difference,” she said.
The theme of the 2025 World Brain Tumour Day—“Fighting Brain Cancer Together”—is not just aspirational; it is a roadmap. It demands that governments, civil society, private sector, and the media work collaboratively to reduce the burden of this under-recognised health threat. But without political will, the situation will remain bleak. Nigeria must act now—by investing in diagnostic infrastructure, training neurosurgeons, funding research, and including brain tumour treatment in the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) scheme. Even a modest start—such as subsidised MRI scans and awareness campaigns in regional hospitals—can lead to significant gains.
