We’ll deploy technology to improve cancer treatment — Finance minister

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has said going forward, the federal government intends to deploy technology in the prevention and treatment of cancer across the country.

He stated this in Abuja on Wednesday at the Medserve Oncology Summit 2.0 where stakeholders gathered to chart a course for Nigeria’s efforts in tackling the spread of cancer.

Edun said, “Technology is now playing a key role not only in the financial sector but also in the health sector and the current efforts of the government is to deploy technology to see how to cure cancer

“We have seen that current statistics show that 30% of certain colon cancers are curable. Normally, when you hear cancer, you fear the worst. And we have been told here that all we have to do is adopt the necessary technological tools ourselves, we have to be part of the world effort and we are on course.”

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Also speaking, the managing director of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) Aminu Umar-Sadiq said the authority had continued to invest hugely in the prevention and treatment of cancer in the country.

The MD represented by the Chief Investment Officer at NSIA, Kolawole Owodunni, stated that, “So far, the NSIA committed to spending $2 million to the training of healthcare professionals over the next few years.

“We have actually started this program already in 8 teaching hospitals across Nigeria. We would love to do more, It is important to do more because the requirements for healthcare professionals to tackle the scourge of cancer is huge and Nigeria will work with the rest of the world to enhance efficiency.”

Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, said this year’s theme which focused on enhancing the oncology workforce in Nigeria was germane as “cancer  is becoming a growing health pandemic in Nigeria and other parts of the world, with the increasing number of cases that we see each year.”

He however added that, “Nigeria has taken significant steps to improving cancer care, as we are working to fill the manpower gaps in our Cancer Care Centers, recruit young professionals and ensure they are trained to the highest international standards. Equally important is creating incentives to retain this talent so that we can contribute to the growth and improvement of our healthcare sector for years to come.”