BAW 2009 in Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria

Some of the BAW team (Dr Adefisayo Adekanmbi centre)

Brain Awareness Week 2009, "Causes and Effects of Injury to the Brain," took place in Damaturu, March 16-22, 2009. There were 3350 people in attendance for all the events organized. Participants included pregnant women, motorbike riders, secondary school students, healthcare practitioners, community partners and the public. This year's BAW in Damaturu was indeed a successful one. The programmes were designed to increase awareness of the causes and effects of injury to the brain. However, because of the epidemic of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM)in Yobe State, there was great emphasis given to public awareness of the causes, symptoms, complications and prevention/vaccination of cerebrospinal meningitis. The BAW featured public lectures, demonstrations, and vaccination of participants to prevent cerebrospinal meningitis.

Event 1 (March 16, 2009)

The opening programme and public lecture featured Dr Hauwa, Gen Sanni Abacha Specialist Hospital (G.S.A.S.H.). The event took place at the ante-natal clinic of the G.S.A.S.H. The lecture entitled "Cause & Effects of Injury on the Brain of the Developing Baby" discussed the role of drugs, fetal alcohol syndrome and intake of local herbal concoctions on the central nervous system of the developing baby. Other topics included: 1) Cerebral malaria and its effects on the brain; 2) Neonatal meningitis causes, symptoms, complications, treatment and prevention; 3) There was also emphasis on adequate nutrition in pregnancy and the role of folic acid in the prevention of spinal cord defects in the baby. In all, 150 pregnant women attended. The programme was followed by a question and answer section.

Event 2 (March 17, 2009)

Motorbike riders during BAW 2009
Dr Ismail Zubairu and Dr Adekanmbi centre

The programme was targeted at the motorbike riders in Damaturu. The venue was at the roundabout Damaturu. Most of the motorbike riders in Damaturu do not use crash helmets. The topic of the awareness was the "Causes and Effects of Head Injury on the Brain". The public lecture was delivered by Dr Ismail Zubairu of the G.S.A.S.H. The emphasis was on the importance of crash helmets to prevent head injury, which can lead to brain damage. Awareness was also created on the cerebrospinal meningitis epidemic: causes, symptoms, complications, prevention and treatment. The audience were also informed of the effects of alcohol, substance abuse and smoking on the central nervous system. Over 100 motorbike riders attended the event.

Event 3 (March 18, 2009)

The venue of the event was at Bundigari Junior Secondary School, Damaturu, Yobe State. The programme was targeted at the 1,200 students in attendance. Dr Adefisayo Adekanmbi (Organizer of the BAW Campaign) gave the Brain Awareness Lecture. The topics discussed included meningitis, causes, symptoms, complications and prevention. The role of the brain in learning and memory was also discussed. A lecture was also given on careers and training in neuroscience. The highlight of the programme was the vaccination of 300 students to prevent them from cerebrospinal meningitis infection. The students were enthusiastic, highly engaged and constantly asked questions.

Event 4 (March 19, 2009) 

Students of St Mary Junior Secondary School
 New Jerusalem, Damaturu, Yobe State

Venue: St Mary Junior Secondary School, New Jerusalem, Damaturu, Yobe State.
Target audience: Junior Secondary School Students.
Facilitator: Dr Paul Ajayi (G.S.A.S.H.)
Topics: 1) How alcohol affects young people's brain; 2) Cerebrospinal meningitis: causes, symptoms, complications and prevention; 3) Stroke and its effects on the brain; 4) Epilepsy; 5) Headache.
Number of participants: 600 students.

The highlight of the event was the vaccination of 300 students to prevent cerebrospinal meningitis.

Event 5 (March 20, 2009)

CSM immunization exercise for the students of Government Day
Senior Secondary School, Damaturu, Yobe State

Venue: Government Day Senior Secondary School, Phase 1, Damaturu, Yobe State.
Target audience: Senior secondary school students.
Facilitator: Dr Adefisayo Adekanmbi.
Topics: 1) Awareness of meningitis epidemic; 2) Functions of the nervous system; 3) Substance abuse and its effects on the brain; 4) Training and careers in neuroscience.
Number of participants: 1300 students.

The event was concluded with the vaccination of 300 students with the CSM vaccine.

Posters were made with information about the BAW activities and publicity was broadcast via the Yobe State Broadcasting Corporation in Hausa and Kanuri, the local languages of the people. Technical assistance was provided by the Immunization Unit of the Primary Health Care Department of the Ministry of Health, Yobe State and 900 students were immunized against cerebrospinal meningitis.

Funding was provided by the IBRO Brain Campaign and the Damaturu Brain Awareness Team (DBAT).

Benefits and the immediate outcomes of BAW for the local community include:

1. The public was made aware of the causes, symptoms, complications and prevention of cerebrospinal meningitis.
2. During BAW, 900 students had cerebrospinal meningitis vaccinations to prevent them getting the disease.
3. The motorbike riders were able to understand the importance of crash helmets and the need to procure one.
4. Pregnant women learned the importance of adequate intake of folic acid to prevent spinal cord defects in their babies.
5. The students learned about the effects of drugs and alcohol on the brain.
6. There was an increased enthusiasm among the students to become medical doctors, neurologists, neurosurgeons, psychiatrists and neuroscientists.

BAW 2009 was really a welcome event - many of the participants wished Brain Awareness Week could happen every week of the year.

Organizers and staffers

Millennium Development Goal FACOR group of the NYSC program in Damaturu
Damaturu Brain Awareness Team (DBAT)
Staff of the Immunization Unit of the Primary Health Care Department of the Ministry of Health, Yobe State

Approximately 25 people were involved in organizing the events.

Adefisayo Adekanmbi
General Sanni Abacha Specialist Hospital
Damaturu, Yobe State
Nigeria
phynixa@yahoo.com