Dear HIFA colleagues and friends,
Warm greetings from the city of the seven hills, Yaounde. On World Brain Day held on the 22nd July 2024, Africa, experienced a historic moment with the signing of the Yaounde Declaration in Cameroon on Brain economy, Brain health and Brain capital. Experts from all over the world gathered to sign what would be the corner stone and road map to develop Brain economy, brain health and brain sciences in Africa. For more information on the Yaounde Declaration you can go too (1-https://euromed-economists.org/emea-co-organises-the-scientific-technica... and 2-https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(24)00364-8/fulltext).
According to WHO brain health is " functioning across cognitive, sensory, social-emotional, behavioural and motor domains, allowing a person to realize their full potential over the life course, irrespective of the presence or absence of disorders…’ https://www.who.int/health-topics/brain-health#tab=tab_1
Cameroon hosting the African Brain Summit on the 22nd of August sets the foundation for a radical change in the development of brains sciences globally in the sense of the potential for leadership, representation, participation and inclusion of African nations in the development of brain economy and brains sciences. A process of decolonising global mental health. For more information on Decolonising global mental health ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10579658/). The Yaounde Declaration is a contribution to global progress, development and global health.
The Cameroonian government by hosting and supporting this event marked its fundamental interest in science, research and technology development. In this regard, the work of Prof Njamnshi Alfred chair of The Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN) most be mentioned. Please for more information about Prof Njamnshi and his work you can go too (https://brainafrica.org/about/mission_vision_passion/).
We need to recognize the distinction and intersection on the one hand between brain health, brains sciences and mental health and mental sciences on the other hand.Yes, globally mental health is a struggle but in Africa the struggle is mostly felt as a result of inequities in health aggravated because of decades of affliction coming from infectious diseases ( e.g. HIV/ AIDS). Which albeit progress in treatment still affects African populations especially the youths. The UN, and WHO confirm a global mental health crisis implies a considerable effort to invest in mental health and see into mental health as a key element for the development of All Nations.
Therefore, there is equally need to support and strengthen African mental health systems so as to effectively integrate the promises of brain health and brain economy. Moreover, that the mental health market is growing fast and steadily and public mental health in Africa is struggling.This is my hope as the WHO Afro Regional director is been elected.
To end , we can no longer underestimate the value of mental wealth in the Development of nations. A term coined by Prof. Jo-an Occhipinti refering to : " is a holistic measure of national prosperity that monetizes the value generated by a nation's economic and social productivity." Mental wealth is linked to brain capital as it is the core of a nations collective mental assets. For more information on mental wealth you can go too: (https://www.nature.com/articles/s44220-023-00044-w)
Because mental health is a key determinant to work, productivity . Investing in it would go a long way to support the development of Brain economies and Brain health for all.
Best regards,
Didier Demassosso
HIFA country representative coordinator WHO Afro region
HIFA country representative for Cameroon
Mental health advocate
HIFA profile: Didier Demassosso is a mental health practitioner, Consultant (WHO , MoPH Cameroon...), Mental health advocate , Youth advocate with 10 years experience in mental health development in Cameroon. He is also a health communicator and educationist. HIFA Country Representative For Cameroon/ HIFA Country Representative of the year 2014 / Regional Coordinator for Africa. He also currently volunteers for the Mental Health Innovation Network Africa as Knowledge Exchange Assistant. HIFA Working group membership(s):
Mental health: meeting information needs for substance use disordersMobile HIFA (mHIFA)mHEALTH-INNOVATE: What can we learn from health workers' informal use of mobile phones? didier.demassosso@gmail.com https://www.hifa.org/support/members/didier
