‘Closing The Gap:’ Health Minister Tunji Alausa Lists Nigeria’s Initiatives To Combat Cancer

• The World Cancer Day is commemorated February 4th of every year.

• Nigeria’s health ministry held a press briefing commemorating the 2024 edition on February 6.

• The briefing highlighted steps the Nigerian government had taken and is planning to take to combat cancer in the country.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has unveiled the Federal Government’s initiatives to expand research and combat cancer.

He disclosed the government’s initiatives at a press briefing commemorating the 2024 World Cancer Day on Tuesday.

According to the minister, the theme of the 2024 edition, ‘Closing the Cancer Care Gap’ with emphasis on “Together, we can challenge those in power”, is apt and timely as it seeks to address the dichotomy between different social classes with respect to access to cancer care.

Alausa noted that the health ministry had taken several steps to address cancer challenges in the country, including primary prevention through vaccination, early detection, prompt treatment and research.

He stated that the ministry has also provided “strategic guidance” for the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to enroll all Nigerians including cancer patients into health insurance, saying that this move will go a long way in reducing the cost of cancer care in the country.

The minister added that the Federal Government is establishing six new Cancer Centres of Excellence in select hospitals across the six geopolitical zones in the country with brachytherapy machines and other equipment to improve access to cancer care services.

Read the minister’s full address below:

Good morning gentlemen of the press, Permanent Secretary, Directors distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to address you on this remarkable day, as we are once again drawn by the United Nations to one of the World’s most dreaded diseases, Cancer.

2. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and in Nigeria. No wonder the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) at the first World Summit Against Cancer in 2000 in Paris, declared 4th February every year as the World Cancer Day. This declaration I believe have continued to attract the needed attention towards addressing the challenges of cancer care globally.

3. Today’s address is a show of our commitment and to commemorate the World Cancer Day
 as a UN member state,
 as a nation working with multinational cancer organizations
 and with all opinion leaders around the world.

4. We are provided with the opportunity to showcase our efforts and adapt the cross learnings from our international partners by the improving the quality of life of cancer patients, advancement and increased investment in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and research in Nigeria

5. The theme of the 2024 World Cancer Day ‘Closing the Cancer Care Gap’ with emphasis on “Together, we can challenge those in power”, is apt and timely as it seeks to address the dichotomy between different social classes with respect to access to cancer care.

6. May I say boldly here that the 2024 focus of the World Cancer Day theme resonates absolutely with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR).

7. We are now adopting several measures to fix the rising cost of drugs and medical consumables, this is moreso coming from the directive of our dear President that is so compassionate to the plight of the health status of Nigerian citizens

8. As you may be aware, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has unveiled a 4-point Agenda to reposition the health sector which include:
i. Improving Health care governance
ii. Improving Population Health Outcomes
iii. Unlocking Healthcare value chain
iv. Health Security for Nigerians.

Equally we have taken several steps to address cancer challenges in the country among them are;
• Primary prevention through vaccination, early detection, prompt treatment and Research. The Ministry through the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) is leading the Human Papilloma virus vaccination for primary prevention of cancer of the Cervix, as well as the Hepatitis immunization for prevention of liver cancers. Cervical and liver cancers happen to be the second and the fourth commonest cancers in Nigeria respectively.
• Vaccination for viral hepatitis has been on the National Programme on immunization, HPV Vaccination was commenced in 2023. I hereby enjoin parents, opinion leaders and indeed all stakeholders to take advantage of the immunization programmes. The vaccine is free, very safe and highly efficacious in preventing these cancers.

9. The National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) recently created is mandated by law to provide leadership in the area of cancer research and treatment.

10. We have just recently moved the Cancer Health Fund that is coordinated and housed in the Ministry NICRAT to provide prompt and unhindered access the Cancer Health Fund to the indigent Nigeria who needs this for efficiency particularly timeliness and sustainability. The Ministry will continue to provide its oversight and policy direction for the fund.

11. The National Health Insurance Authority Act 2022 has made Health Insurance mandatory for all Nigerians. We have also provided that strategic guidance for NHIA to enroll all Nigerians including cancer patients into health insurance. This will go a long way in reducing the cost of cancer care in the country.

12. The NHIA will ultimately manage funding for cancer care in the future, to avoid duplication of roles in terms of purchase of services for all patients. Recently, the operational guideline of the NHIA Act was launched to pave the way for full operationalization of the Act, which also provides for Funding for vulnerable Nigerians including cancer patients.

13. Under our leadership we shall ensure that we continue to coordinate all the agencies to live up to expectations and mandates’

14. Gentlemen of the press, like I said yesterday, to improve access to cancer care services The Government is establishing 6 new Cancer Centres of Excellence in the following 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 country with brachytherapy machines and other equipment.

15. We are currently implementing the National Policy on Hospice and Palliative care and the national policy on Chemotherapy Safety which were launched in 2021. 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.

16. I wish to enjoin all stakeholders to continue to partner with the Ministry and all our agencies to implement the programmes and activities meant to provide robust cancer care services in 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.

17. Gentlemen of the press , distinguish invitees take our message out there just like the focus of the 2024 World Cancer Day Theme which says “Together, we can challenge those in power” as we have challenged ourselves, and have resolved to close cancer care gap in Nigeria.

18. Thank you all for attention.

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