The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare , Prof. Muhammad Pate has called on stakeholders to pay attention to the prevention and reduction of the cancer burden in the country.
He made the call Tuesday in Abuja during the International World Cancer Week (ICW) ,organised by the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) in collaboration with the Nigeria Cancer Society ( NCS) and other partners.
He said cancer is among the fastest growing, non-communicable diseases ( NCDs) in Nigeria.
He added that “NCDs including cancers are the fastest growing segment of the country’s burden of morbidity and mortality, small but rapidly growing. And we don’t have the luxury of waiting until more people have cancer to deal with it.”
- 2-yr-old rape victim’s body found in Bauchi
- NIGERIA DAILY: Why The Measles Vaccine Matters For Every Nigerian Child
He also called on the National Assembly to continue to invest in not just infrastructure and human resources but also in the catastrophic fund for cost of care.
The Director General of NICRAT, Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu said the aim of the International Cancer Week is to among other things, foster the adoption of innovative technologies in cancer care, promote comprehensive training for health professionals, advocate for the expansion and modernisation of cancer care facilities and encourage the implementation of comprehensive programs to support cancer survivors.
He said the choice of the theme for this year’s ICW- ‘Accelerating Nigeria’s Path to Comprehensive Cancer Control: Innovation, Access, and Partnership’, is apt and timely, considering the commitment of the Institute to deliver on its mandates.
Highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding ( MOU) between the federal ministry of health , NICRAT and Roche , a pharmaceutical company. It is geared towards shifting the outcomes of breast cancer in Nigeria from ‘1 in 2’ diagnosed breast cancer patients dying to ‘4 in 5 breast cancer patients surviving’ beyond five years, which aligns more closely with outcomes in developed countries.
Dr. Ladi Hameed, General Manager Roche Products Limited said that breast cancer is the leading cancer in females in Nigeria, with a reported incidence of 32,000 new cases in 2022.
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
