By Fatima Saka
The federal government of Nigeria has called on the stakeholders to continue to partner with the Ministry and the agencies for implementation of the programmes and activities to enable cancer care services in the country, hereby launching Six New Cancer Centres in the six geopolitical zones.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa, made this call on Tuesday at the Ministerial Press Briefing in Commemoration of the 2024 World Cancer Day.
Following are the government is establishment of 6 new Cancer Centres of in Hospitals – UNTH Enugu (South-East), ABUTH Zaria, FTH Katsina (North-West), UBTH Benin (South-South), JUTH Jos (North Central), and LUTH, Lagos (South West), while UMTH Maiduguri is being upgraded (North-East) across the 6 geopolitical zones in the country with brachytherapy machines and other equipment to improve access to cancer care services.
Dr. Alausa further stated that the current implementation of the National Policy on Hospice and Palliative care and the national policy on Chemotherapy Safety which were launched in 2021.
He added that this year is the midterm of their implementation. The Ministry will take steps to review the level of implementation of the 2 policy documents with the view to ensuring optimal uptake by the Healthcare providers across the country.
“I want to commend all the bilateral and multilateral organizations, Non-governmental organizations, pharmaceutical and Equipment manufacturers who have been collaborating with us in the management of Cancer in Nigeria.
Speaking on the theme, the minister urged Nigerians to focus on the 2024 World Cancer Day Theme which says “Together, we can challenge those in power”, added that the society has to be challenged and resolved to close the cancer care gap in Nigeria.
In her remarks, Mrs. Daju, Kachollom S, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, disclosed that the government has signed circulars making it mandatory for all cancer patients in our Tertiary Health Institutions to be reviewed by a Multidisciplinary Tumour Board (MDT) for best cancer treatment outcomes.
She added that the Ministry is working assiduously to ensure that the best range of infrastructure and anticancer medicines are provided for optimal treatment outcomes of cancer patients in the country.
“The Ministry is also making frantic efforts to ensure that relevant policies and guidelines are available to guide all the Healthcare workers to provide quality services akin to what is obtainable in other developed climes,” She said.
Also, the WHO country representative reiterated the theme, saying it is globally to “close the care gap.”
“WHO is supporting several initiatives including the Global initiative for childhood cancer (GICC), Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative and the Global Breast Cancer Initiative.
“Taken the three initiatives together, these interventions can revert the generational harm from cancer and save more than a million lives in the next ten years. Hon. Minister, I am delighted that Nigeria expressed interest to join GICC. We are processing this request.
“In Nigeria, WHO supported the review and launch of the National Control Plan and National Cervical Cancer Control Plan as well as the development and implementation of the 2019-2025 National Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Multisectoral Action Plan which covers all the main NCDs and risk factors.
“In addition, WHO in collaboration with the five state ministries of health, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and Foundations of First Ladies in Kebbi, Niger, Ekiti, Ondo, and Anambra are implementing cervical cancer screening and treatment services.”
