Neurosurgeon Specialist

Gabby Tjiroze
Marcel Ndayishyigikiye

“As a neurosurgeon I diagnose and treat disease affecting the nervous system such as the brain, the spinal cord and nerves,” says neurosurgeon specialist, Marcel Ndayishyigikiye.

“Diseases I treat on a daily basis are caused by trauma like car accidents and falls, infections affecting the brain, tumors of the brain and the spine and those caused by degeneration and aging of the spine.” Ndayishyigikiye also treats children born with congenital abnormalities like hydrocephalus and myelomeningocele.

During his high school career, Ndayishyigikiye was fascinated by biological and neurosciences. “Later on, I had an opportunity to work with a neurosurgeon just after graduating from medical school.”

According to Ndayishyigikiye, the journey to becoming a neurosurgeon specialist is a long, but worthy one. “You have to do the usual six years of medical school, then two years of community service working as medical officer, depending on the country. Usually after, you will be required to do five to six years, then of specialization in neurosurgery. This will bring you to a minimum of 14 years after matric,” he explained.

“Like any other speciality in medicine, you need to be dedicated and love what you are doing because it’s a lifelong career. You need to work hard and believe in the end goal,” he said.