Patients from the north, long forced to travel to Yaoundé or abroad for neurosurgical care, can now find specialized treatment in Garoua, particularly in the field of neuroscience..

Successful surgery on a teenage girl who was suffering from a tumor on her head

Specialized medicine is undergoing a true revolution in the North region. For decades, neurological and neurosurgical conditions posed a significant challenge for the population. Faced with a scarcity of specialists and suitable medical facilities, families were often forced to undertake long journeys to Yaoundé, or even abroad, at prohibitive costs. This era now seems to be gradually becoming a thing of the past. In Garoua, neuroscience is experiencing remarkable growth and opening a new chapter in the region’s healthcare history.

This progress is driven by the neurosurgery unit at the Garoua Regional Hospital, which is achieving medical feats previously unimaginable in this part of the country. Thanks to investments, the increased skills of the medical teams, and the availability of increasingly advanced technical facilities, complex neurosurgical procedures are now being successfully performed locally.

The recent operation performed by Dr. Ignatius Esene and his team perfectly illustrates this progress. The specialists successfully removed a giant brain tumor from a patient after a particularly delicate procedure. The operation was a success, allowing the patient to begin her recovery process in encouraging conditions. This medical feat quickly gained international recognition. Within specialized circles, it

has generated considerable interest and demonstrates the high level of local expertise. For many observers, this intervention confirms that the Garoua Regional Hospital is now capable of handling highly complex cases that, just a few years ago, would have required medical evacuation. Patients can now receive specialized care close to home, thus reducing expenses related to travel, prolonged hospital stays, and consultations in major urban centers.

The development of neuroscience in the North is not solely based on surgical interventions. It also relies on a growing openness to international scientific cooperation. Most recently, the neurosurgery unit of the Garoua Regional Hospital hosted a neurosurgeon and researcher from Harvard Medical School. This working visit aimed to strengthen scientific exchanges and explore new avenues of collaboration around innovative technologies. Discussions focused in particular on the integration of artificial intelligence solutions designed to improve the diagnosis, surgical planning, treatment, and monitoring of patients suffering from neurological and neurosurgical conditions. The objective is to leverage new technologies to enhance the quality of care while strengthening the capabilities of local medical teams.

Interview : Dr. Ignatius Esene, Neurosurgeon and Head of the Neurosurgery Unit at the Garoua Regional Hospital

« Yes, it can be unequivocally stated that neuroscience now occupies a central place in Garoua.

Doctor, recently the Garoua regional hospital hosted a neurosurgeon-researcher from Harvard University, what was the purpose of this visit?

The Harvard Medical School researcher traveled to Garoua as part of strengthening research cooperation between Harvard Medical School and the Neurosurgery Unit of the Garoua Regional Hospital. This partnership focuses on the development and integration of artificial intelligence solutions aimed at improving the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of patients suffering from neurological and neurosurgical conditions, thereby contributing to improved quality of care.

What are the different aspects of neurosurgery that the hospital discussed with the researcher?

Today, neurosurgical practice benefits greatly from technological advancements. Artificial intelligence is one of the most promising innovations for optimizing diagnosis, treatment, and patient follow-up. Our collaboration focused on integrating these artificial intelligence tools to improve the quality of care throughout the patient journey, from diagnosis to treatment and post-treatment follow-up. This visit also allowed us to strengthen partnerships previously established within the framework of our joint Global Surgery initiatives.

What was the time period of the researcher’s visit?

This initial mission took place over a three-day period. Further visits are already planned for the near future to further strengthen this partnership and ensure the

continuity of collaborative projects.

Can we say today that neuroscience has found a place in Garoua? If so, what evidence supports this?

Yes, it can be unequivocally stated that neuroscience now occupies a central place in Garoua. The city has become a leading medical center for the Far North of Cameroon as well as for neighboring countries in the treatment of disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system. Several tangible and recent elements attest to this, notably modern infrastructure and cutting-edge technologies, the Best Research in Neurosurgery Award obtained in Dubai (December 2025), the achievement of internationally recognized surgical feats, a strong presence of neuroscience, which is not limited to infrastructure alone, but also extends to research, training and innovation, a comprehensive healthcare offering covering all pathologies of the nervous system, a solid university foundation and a growing sub-regional influence. Thanks to these advances, Garoua is gradually establishing itself as a center of excellence in neuroscience and neurosurgery in Central Africa.