KIU, Western Campus – The KIU Neuroscience Forum in association with the IBRO-DANA Foundation and the Anatomical Association of Uganda successfully held Brain Awareness Week 2024 on March 15th and 16th, with an insightful seminar and aerobics session.

The event began with a seminar in the University Main Hall graced by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) for Western Campus Asoc. Prof Eric Mabonga, the President of the Anatomical Association of Uganda, Godfrey Masilili, Assoc. Prof Jennifer Ssengooba from Makerere University and Neurobiologist Dr. Victor Archibong from the University of Rwanda.

Others were Prof. Emeka Anyanwu, Professor of Neuroanatomy and the Dean of the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences (FBMS) and Dr. Bives Mutume, the HOD Psychiatry Department at KIU Teaching Hospital.

The DVC, Assoc. Prof Mabonga thanked the organizers for organizing the seminar since it is important for the participants they understand how the brain operates.

“This function is going to impart some knowledge about how we can have our brains functioning normally so that we can contribute to society,” he said.

“Under normal circumstances, we are all born with normal brains but we abuse our brains through the use of some substances which contribute to our brain damage,” he added.

Dr. Archibong made a presentation about “Understanding the impact of substance use disorder on brain health” where he spoke about the scope of substance abuse in Africa, the impact of substance abuse on brain health and prevention of substance abuse strategies.

Dr. Ssengooba pointed out the fact that doctors have the privilege of access to opioids like morphine and many have ended up getting addicted to them.

Dr. Mutume talked about the adverse effects of substance use disorder like mental health problems, poor performance in school or work, domestic violence and problems with the law.

“We can avoid these problems by going for mental health screening and treatment, creating awareness, creating a well-balanced lifestyle to avoid using a substance and most importantly saying no to drugs,” he advised.

The Brain Awareness week continued on March 16 with an aerobics session (below), where participants were taken through various exercises by experienced instructors.

The Brain Awareness Week was organized under the stewardship of Dr. Usman Ibe, the Head of the Department of Human Anatomy at KIU Western Campus and convener of the event.