FG reiterates commitment to combat cancer
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to fight against cancer in order to improve healthcare of cancer patients. The National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), made this known while addressing newsmen in Abuja.
READ ALSO:D-G NICRAT Assures Improved Cancer Research, Treatment
Prof. Usman Aliyu, the Director-General of NICRAT disclosed that government was making concerted efforts to ensure that cancer patients get better treatment and care against the disease.
Aliyu further noted that the government has procured radiotherapy equipment to ensure adequate care for patients suffering from the cancer. According to him, such efforts on improving cancer care has not been made available in most of the cancer care facilities in the last ten years.
He said that proper measures were being considered in ensuring that more sub-radiotherapy equipment are available across the seven cancer centres nationwide which included linear accelerator. He said that government would continue to train more oncologist to bridge the existing gap.
Also speaking, Dr Nwamaka Lasebikan, President of the Association of Radiation and Clinical Oncologist of Nigeria (ARCON) revealed that the conference was organised to advocate for better care for cancer patients by addressing the challenges.
“Late presentation of the disease by cancer patients is making care for them difficult because the disease would have reached advanced stage. At this stage the treatment is what we call palliative care, we are just trying to do what we can do to stop the progression of this disease, it is a major challenge for us,’’ she said.
She further added that there were only ten facilities in Nigeria that had functional radiotherapy equipment.
The president also noted that the stigmatisation of cancer patients has discouraged many from accessing medical care from health centres, adding that more manpower and enlightenment are required in handling the situation.
Wumi/NAN
