Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, at the Nigerian-Siemens Healtnieers Systems Workshop on cancer in Nigeria
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, says the Federal Ministry of Health is working with relevant stakeholders to mitigate the effects of cancer in Nigeria.
The minister reiterated the commitment of the administration of President Bola Tinubu to improving cancer treatment and research in his keynote address at the Nigerian-Siemens Healtnieers Systems Workshop in Abuja on Thursday.
Dr. Alausa noted that the government is prepared to reduce the incidence of the deadly scourge and ensure that those with the illness have access to the best care and support in the country.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and other participants at the Nigerian-Siemens Healtnieers Systems Workshop
The minister further stated that, in order to achieve these outcomes, the health ministry has mapped out strategies to geometrically increase cancer experts in the country through training and re-training of all categories of healthcare professionals.
He also said the Federal Government is dedicated to strengthening and improving the administration and management of the cancer health fund in Nigeria.
Furthermore, Dr. Alausa revealed that the federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is also upgrading 6 cancer centres of excellence for treatment and 8 centres for cancer diagnosis.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and other participants at the Nigerian-Siemens Healtnieers Systems Workshop
The minister added that Siemens, a German multinational technology conglomerate, is ready and committed to supporting Nigeria’s implementation of the National Cancer Control Plan 2023-27.
Read the Full Text of the Minister’s address below:
KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE HOUNOURABLE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE, DR TUNJI ALAUSA. AT THE OPENING OF A NIGERIAN-SIEMENS HEALTNIEERS SYSTEMS WORKSHOP ON THURSDAY 25TH APRIL 2024.
Good morning,
I am delighted to address you on the occasion of opening of the NIGERIAN-SIEMENS HEALTNIEERS SYSTEMS WORKSHOP organized by the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT).
The workshop is aimed at improving the outcomes of cancer care in our country. I would like to applaud the organisers of this workshop for your foresight.
This meeting could not have come at a better time than now, when the federal government of Nigeria under the current administration of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committing itself more than ever before to the war against cancer in Nigeria.
In 2022, The estimated number of new cancer cases in Nigeria was 127,763 with 79,542 deaths. This is expected to increase by 77% and deaths to double by the year 2050.
The proportionate increase is more striking in low- and middle-income countries like ours, this has a far-reaching economic impact on the health system and the country at large.
I said that for myself, this was about turning my professional view as a doctor into a political transformation, sharing my voice with that of many others to bring about the most desired change for this epidemic.
Today, stakeholders, healthcare professionals, and NGOs are working together closely to address this menace.
This workshop, with the excellent objectives of improving collaboration between public and private sector to mitigate against the scourge of cancer in Nigeria and improve the outcome of care for those affected by the diseases is timely.
I am optimistic that the outcome of this workshop will help in addressing access to cancer care in Nigeria from prevention, screening, access to treatment, to palliative care.
The Federal Ministry of Health, through NICRAT is determined to work with all relevant stakeholders to change the narrative on cancer care in Nigeria through intense awareness creation and improved access to treatment and research.
We are firmly determined to keep this momentum up until we change the narrative in the cancer space in Nigeria.
This would also charter a way for a new partnership between the FMoH & SW and SEIMENS in order to bring off hope for a brighter future without cancer.
To underscore our preparedness to reduce the incidence of this deadly scourge and ensure that those with the illness have access to the best care and support in the country, we have mapped out strategies to geometrically increase cancer experts in the country through training and re-training of all categories of healthcare professionals.
We are dedicated to strengthening and improving the administration and management of the cancer health fund in Nigeria.
The focus of the ministry through NICRAT on CHF implementation will be on enhancing coverage, ensuring effective resource mobilization and prompting transparency in the allocation of resources to support cancer treatment and care services.
In the area of support for capacity building and facility strengthening, we have forged impactful partnerships with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to optimize capacity building for cancer care in Nigeria.
The federal ministry of health and social welfare is also upgrading 6 cancer centres of excellence for treatment and 8 centres for cancer diagnosis.
I am, therefore, particularly pleased that we are witnessing the beginning of this collaboration which is a further proof of the renewed commitment and readiness of Siemens to support the implementation of the National Cancer Control Plan 2023-27.
We hope that this workshop would address challenges and key priority areas of cancer care in Nigeria and explore avenue for collaborations. I Look forward to fruitful deliberations and outcome of this meeting.
Thank you.
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