The prevalence of these disorders is on the rise, with the World Health Organization (WHO) indicating a 40% increase over the past 30 years globally.
Neurological disorders, which rank second in causing the highest number of deaths globally, include epilepsy, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, stroke, myopathies, paralysis, and many others.
WHO projects that by 2050, the prevalence of these disorders in Rwanda will have doubled.
Professional attention to these conditions in Rwanda began less than 20 years ago with the first specialized department established at Caraes Ndera in 2006 and another one at King Faisal Hospital (KFH) in April 2024.
At Caraes Ndera, approximately 70% of patients suffer from neurological disorders, resulting in long wait times for appointments up to five months.
To gain deeper insight into these disorders, their treatment, and Rwanda's progress in training more specialists, IGIHE engaged Dr. Fidele Sebera, regarded as the pioneer of neurological treatment in Rwanda.
Dr. Sebera, a specialist in treating neurological disorders, introduced this field in Rwanda after undergoing specialized training in Senegal. He studied medicine at the former National University of Rwanda and specialized in neurology in Senegal. For over a decade, Dr. Sebera was the sole specialist in neurological treatment in Rwanda.
'At that time, I started discussions with the Brothers of Charity here in Ndera, who connected me with doctors from Ghent University in Belgium and the medical company Union Chimique Belge (UCB),' he recalls.
Collaborating with them, he arranged for Rwandan doctors to train in Senegal, where he had studied, to increase the number of specialists. Today, there are five such trained doctors.
Considering the growing concerns caused by these disorders, Dr. Sebera planned to sustainably increase the number of specialists.
In partnership with experts from Ghent and UCB, he developed a curriculum for neurology, now taught at the University of Rwanda.
'Currently, we have 11 students. The first cohort is in their second year, with six in their first year and five in their second year. We plan to admit another seven to ten students in the upcoming academic year (September 2024),' he noted.
There is hope that admitting students annually will provide a sufficient human resource to treat these disorders properly and ultimately neurology studies will deepen roots in Rwanda.
In support of his initiatives, the Government extended a scholarship to Dr. Sebera to study at Ghent University, where he earned a Ph.D. in 2023.
Previously, he had received various medical training, including in brain cancer and the general functioning of the brain, from France and Belgium.
'These services are now available in Rwanda. I initiated them after establishing the neurology department at Ndera,' he says.
Dr. Sebera chose this field because, upon completing general medicine, he noticed a lack of specialized doctors in neurology despite the prevalence of such conditions globally.
His passion was partly driven by observations during internships at various hospitals, where he saw many Rwandans with these disorders being inadequately treated.
'Among my peers, none were interested in specializing in this field because they feared it. That's when I decided to encourage Rwandans to pursue this field,' he explains.
Neurological disorders are often overlooked and confused with mental illnesses like madness, but Dr. Sebera explains that there is a difference.
He says that neurological disorders have specific causes, such as brain tumors, which can be detected through medical examinations.
'For instance, epilepsy can be diagnosed using radio imaging to identify the cause, unlike other mental illnesses which has no proven cause.
18 years down the road, Dr Sebera admits that patients can now receive proper diagnosis and treatment, with quantifiable improvements in their conditions.
Though the journey is still far from over due to the limited number of doctors, there is a beacon of hope since these disorders are now recognized and people know where to seek treatment.
Factors contributing to these disorders include hormonal imbalance, brain tumors, strokes, and poor eating habits.
Epilepsy, in particular, can be treated successfully if properly diagnosis is made in time, contrary to common myths that it's as a result of witchcraft or demonic possession.
Dr. Sebera cautions on the abuse of illicit drugs, which significantly impact neurological health, preventing accidents as much as possible, and maintaining overall body health.
IGIHE
