Accra, Nov. 28, GNA - Government has committed land and 25 per cent of the estimated 45 million dollars needed to establish a Neuroscience Centre at Korle- Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra, the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama announced on Tuesday. He said Government's contribution to the project would be captured in three subsequent annual budgets with effect from 2007, while companies, which would contribute towards the Fund would enjoy tax exemptions.

Alhaji Mahama made the announcement when he launched the project, the first to be established in West Africa to treat people suffering from stroke, brain, spinal cord injuries and other neurological problems.

He said the loss of people in vehicular and other accidents could have been avoided if appropriate neurosurgical facilities were available.

"It is for these reasons that the Neuroscience project is dear to my heart and should also attract the interest of everyone," he said. The Reverend Professor Seth Ayettey, Member of the Korle-Bu Neuroscience Foundation (KBNF), said Dr Thomas Dakurah, a Ghanaian Neurological Surgeon, who initiated the project in collaboration with two Canadian medical personnel -Prof. Felix Durity and Mrs Marjorie Ratel had led to the shipment of 11 containers of equipment to KBTH valued at four million Canadian dollars.

He said Dr Bernard Rawlins; a Ghanaian spinal surgeon in New York, USA has also contributed significantly to equipping the neurosurgery unit with spinal implants valued at one million dollars.

Dr Dakurah said the Teaching Hospital attended to about 1,800 patients with head injuries and another 300 with spinal injuries. "This represents only the tip of the iceberg. There are more of such problems in the rest of the country that do not receive adequate attention. Many of these injuries are complicated by paralysis, chronic mental disorders, seizures blindness, deafness and impaired cognitive function.

Dr Dakurah advised people afflicted by epilepsy to seek medical treatment, adding that the disease was not contagious. The Most Rev. Dr. Samuel Asante Antwi, Chairman of KBNF, said his interest in the project stemmed from the fact that he was saved from imminent death when he was treated from a neurological problem in 1997. "There are many others out there whose lives could be saved and whose intellectual capacities would be preserved to continue to be productive citizens."

Mr William Inkumsah, Chairman of the Fund Raising Committee, appealed to the citizenry to donate towards the Fund since nobody had control over the degeneration of his or her nerves and bones. "We cannot eradicate vehicular accidents completely. We have no control over accidents in our daily endeavours.

"We are all vulnerable to neuro diseases. They are not mass killers like HIV/AIDS and malaria, but their killing effects can be equally devastating and painful," he said.