By Abigail Philip David
President Bola Tinubu has officially inaugurated the Cancer Screening Centre at the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS) in Uburu, Ebonyi State.
Represented by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of the centre in advancing cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment for Nigerians. He noted that the initiative would help reduce medical tourism, ensuring that citizens receive quality healthcare within the country.
Commending DUFUHS for its commitment to providing free dialysis services, Umahi expressed confidence that the hospital would restore hope and improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria. He also highlighted Tinubu’s donation of a 2000-kilowatt solar power system to support the hospital’s Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Unit, the only such facility in the South-East region. He urged Nigerians to take advantage of the centre’s services.
Free Medical Services for the South-East
In her remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-East), Mrs. Chioma Nweze, described the cancer centre’s inauguration as a significant healthcare intervention for the region, particularly for those who cannot afford medical services.
She stressed that President Tinubu’s administration views access to quality healthcare as a fundamental right and is committed to ensuring that all Nigerians, regardless of their financial status, receive proper medical attention.
“Our Medical Outreach Initiative is a comprehensive programme offering six months of free cancer screening, free eye examinations, and medical glasses for the first 200 patients,” Nweze said. “Additionally, we will provide dialysis treatment for one year, all delivered by highly trained professionals using state-of-the-art equipment at DUFUHS.”
She added that the programme was launched with the belief that every life is valuable and that collaborative efforts can improve healthcare access, creating a healthier and more prosperous future.
DUFUHS Cancer Centre to Operate with Advanced Technology
Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of DUFUHS, Prof. Jessy Uneke, said the cancer centre would leverage cutting-edge technology for diagnosing cancer and related diseases. He noted that advanced diagnostic techniques, including blood chemistry tests, complete blood counts (CBC), and cytogenetic analysis, would be employed.
Citing the 2022 Global Cancer Observation (GLOBOCAN) report by the World Health Organization, Prof. Uneke revealed that Nigeria recorded 127,763 new cancer cases, with 48,096 (37.6%) affecting males and 79,667 (62.4%) affecting females. He added that cancer-related deaths stood at 79,542, with 41.4% of the fatalities being male and 58.6% female.
He further outlined the most prevalent cancer types in Nigeria:
- For men: Prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and liver cancer.
- For women: Breast cancer, cervical cancer, and colorectal cancer.
Since its inception, the DUFUHS Cancer Centre has treated 207 cancer patients, comprising 88 males (42.5%) and 119 females (57.5%). Of these, 107 patients (51.7%) were between the ages of 40 and 69.
Prof. Uneke reiterated the university’s dedication to providing top-tier cancer care, ensuring that Nigerians have access to the best possible treatment without the need to seek medical care abroad.
