$100 million brain and spine centre to be commissioned in Ghana.

A 100 million-dollar medical centre equipped with world-class technology and experts to handle complex brain and spine surgery will be commissioned in the country this month.

The Tema International Neuro-centre, the first of its kind in Africa, will handle head injuries, brain tumour, brain abscess, strokes, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and neck and back pains through computer-assisted surgical operation.

Dr Nii Bonney Andrews, a Neurosurgeon and Vice President of Neuro-Ghana, a non-governmental organisation, who announced this in Accra on Thursday, said the centre would also act as a training and resource centre for African neurosurgeons interested in acquiring modern techniques in brain and spinal cord surgery.

Dr Andrews was speaking at the second annual celebration of Brain Awareness Week (BAW) to draw public attention to information on the brain and spine as they relate to health and diseases.

The event, marked annually in over 40 countries world-wide, is on the theme: "The State of Brain and Spinal Surgery in Ghana". It is focusing on current challenges of diagnosis, facilities for brain and spine surgery and future plans and prospects.

Common brain and spine disorders, which affect Ghanaians, include neck pain, back and waist pain, stroke, epilepsy, constant headaches, head injuries and hydrocephalus (water on the brain).

The week is being organised locally by Neuro-Ghana, which is dedicated to diagnosis, treatment, prevention and research into neuralgic diseases.

Currently there are virtually no modern surgical equipment in Ghana needed to reduce complications, deaths and health costs. Additionally, the neurosurgeon-to-patient ratio is one to seven million. There is no paediatric neurosurgeon. Dr Andrews called for the establishment of an efficient ambulance service to convey victims of head injuries to health facilities to reduce deaths and disabilities. "The standard of hospital care for head-injured patients in Ghana is uneven and generally unsatisfactory", he said adding that the CT scanner is an indispensable tool for the modern management of head injuries. He said a CT scanner has been installed at the Trust Hospital and another is being installed at the Military Hospital. This will bring to three the number of CT scanners available in the country. Dr Andrew stressed the need for extensive research before any meaningful national health insurance scheme could be evolved since this is necessary to determine the type and cost of health problems.

"Research data on head injuries in Ghana is largely absent. This includes basic science studies, epidemiology, outcome data and clinical trials. It is inconceivable that a rational sustainable national health insurance scheme can be instituted without such a basic and empirical data", Dr Andrews said.

He called on the health authorities to support the centre since multiple benefits would accrue for the nation's health delivery system.

Dr Andrews said with the modern facilities that the centre would provide, blood transfusions in surgery would be absent, and patients would be discharged quickly.

Dr Edward Narh, Director of Narh-Bita Hospital at Tema, whose hospital is working with the centre, said UNESCO has lent its support to the Brain Awareness Week.