The Director General of Voice of Nigeria, VON, Osita Okechukwu has described the multi-billion naira ultra modern Kano state cancer treatment center as succor to people living with cancer.
He said there is a renewed hope of survival after treatment at the cancer center.
He made the statement during a tour of the health facility organised for delegates of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria’s(BON) Annual General meeting held in the state.
He said before now, cancer was perceived as an ailment without cure, but with the kind of center being built and equipment supplied by the Kano state government, “there is hope for cancer patients to survive the life threatening ailment.”
Giant Stride
He commended the Kano state government for taking the gaint stride.
Earlier, Kano state Governor Dr. Umar Ganduje said for speedy and timely completion of the project, there was a huge downward payment to the contractors handling the facility.
“We paid over 60 percent down payment for the equipment, which will not be affected by inflation because we anticipated that long ago. And then for the building, we paid 50 percent,” he explained.
Not business as usual
He said the management of the cancer treatment center would not be business as usual.
“Anybody who works in this center can never go on strike. The center will be managed by private professionals,”Governor Ganduje said.
He said the project expectedly would be commissioned by the Nigerian President Mohammadu Buhari early next year
“latest by the First quarter of next year the Nigerian President, Mohammadu Buhari has agreed to come and Commission this center,” he said.
A unique one in Nigeria
The project manager of the construction company, while conducting the BON delegates round the complex said the center when completed, would be a unique one in Nigeria.
He said its operations theaters were located in a single place, unlike many cancer treatment centers across the country with their theaters located outside the treatment centers.
Studies on cancer
He said a research center was also incorporated in the complex to ease studies on cancer
“Not even the cancer treatment center in the Lagos University Teaching hospital has this type of unique arrangements,‘ he emphasised.
The BON delegates also toured the Dangote Skills Acquisition Center, Murtala Mohammed Hospital, Karibula bridge among others.
Lateefah Ibrahim
