By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Director General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, has disclosed that as a way of tackling the over 120,000 new cancer cases every year, as the Institute will intensify cancer awareness and improved access to treatment and research as Nigeria.
Prof. Malami said that this necessary as Nigeria battles over 120,000 new cases of cancers every year.
Prof. Malami made this known at the 7th Annual Conference of the Association of Nigeria Health Journalists (ANHEJ) organized in collaboration with the World Health Organization, WHO, held in Akwanga, Nasarawa State.
Prof. Malami lamented that the statistics of incidences of cancer related deaths is alarming, hence, is unacceptable, adding that the Institute is doing everything possible to halt the prevalence of the disease in the country.
NICRAT Director General ,represented by Malam Hassan Zaggi, former ANHeJ President revealed that the Institute has mapped out strategies to increase experts in the area of cancer by the training and retraining of different categories of health workers in the country.
He said, ” Statistics indicate that in 2020, an estimated 78,000 people died as a result of cancer related complications. Out of this number, 44,699 were females while 34,200 were males. It is estimated that there are over 120,000 new cancer cases every year in Nigeria.”
“With these gory statistics, NICRAT is determined to work with all relevant stakeholders to disrupt cancer in Nigeria through intense awareness creation and improved access to treatment and research.”
“We have mapped out strategies to geometrically increase cancer experts in the country through training and retraining of all categories of health professionals.”
“In our commitment and preparedness to disrupt all forms of cancers and ensure those with the illness have access to the best care and support in the country, we recently launched three strategic documents.”
“The three documents include National Strategic Cancer Control Plan 2023-2027; National cancer Research Agenda 2024-2027 and National Strategic Plan for Prevention of Cancer of Uterine Cervix 2023-2027.”
“All these documents have priority areas of action that address governance, prevention, supply chain management, data and research as well as surveillance which are in tandem with the aim of the current leadership of the Ministry of Health to improve the health of all Nigerians,” he disclosed.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Government for giving cancer care priority, as demonstrated by the recent movement of the Cancer Trust Fund from the Federal Ministry of Health to NICRAT.”
This will greatly improve the operation of the Institute to tackle all cancer related issues in the country , he noted.
According to Prof. Malami, efforts is being made to bring together critical stakeholders in the fight against cancer, the NICRAT.
“Since my assumption of office over 9 months ago, we have worked hard to lay a solid foundation for Nigeria to join the league of countries that have all the sophistication to control, prevent, treat and conduct cancer research.’
“With the understanding that cancer care and treatment need multidimensional and multi-sectoral approach, over the past few months, we have built partnerships and alliances with relevant agencies of government including the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the National Health Insurance Agency (NHIA) and Civil Society Organizations , CSOs working in the area of cancer.”
“We have also engaged in international collaboration to woo reputable global organizations who are into cancer care and research. Very soon, experts in different fields of cancer care will come to Nigeria to discuss areas they can support us.”
Prof. Malami, therefore, solicited the support of the media, critical stakeholders including Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the cancer space so that in the upcoming years, cancer will be disrupted, defeated and eradicated in Nigeria.
“I implore you to join hands with NICRAT to fight cancer through massive awareness creation. Nigerians must adopt a healthy lifestyle to prevent all forms of cancer,” he stressed .
The NICRAT Director General called on Nigerians to give close attention to their health by visiting the nearest health facility for regular checks.
“Go for examination whenever they have any abnormal feeling in their bodies, this will present the opportunity to nip any form of illness, including all forms of cancers in the bud to prevent it from escalating,” he said.
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