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February 28, 2007
A Ticking Time Bomb
by Michael Martell
EVERY 6TH PERSON IS AFFECTED BY NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS WORLDWIDE
A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that neurological disorders, ranging from epilepsy to Alzheimer disease, from stroke to headache, af-fect up to one billion people worldwide. Neurological disorders also include brain injuries, neuroinfections, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson disease.
The Report, Neurological Disorders: Public health challenges, reveals that of the one billion people affected worldwide, 50 million suffer from epilepsy and 24 million from Alzheimer and other dementias. Neurological disorders affect people in all countries, irrespective of age, sex, education or income.
An estimated 6.8 million people die every year as a result of neurological disorders. In Europe, the economic cost of neurological diseases was estimated at about 139 billion euros in 2004.
Access to appropriate care is difficult for many people with neurological disorders, their families and caregivers. WHO advocates for the integration of neurological care into primary health care. For many people, primary health care is the only access to medical care they have. In these settings, doctors can use low-technology interven-tions. Community-based rehabilitation is also an option.
"Despite the fact that highly effective, low-cost treatments are available, as many as nine out of 10 people suffering from epilepsy in Africa go untreated. Health systems need to be strengthened to deliver better care for people with neurological disor-ders," said Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General.
Due to the fact that many countries already today can not cope with the health care of their people, it is only fair to say that the increasing number of neurological disor-ders around the world is indeed a ticking time bomb.
The full report can be found at: http://www.who.int/mental_health/en/
Posted by michael_martell at February 28, 2007 09:36 AM
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