World Cancer Day: Nigeria’s Health Ministry Pledges To Support Cancer Patients

By Stephen Abulogbon

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has pledged to support Nigerian cancer patients with required treatment and research.

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom S., MNI, made the pledge at the Ministerial Press Briefing, marking the commemoration of the 2024 World Cancer Day on Tuesday, February 6, 2024.

The event, which was part of a series of activities organised by the Ministry, included a cancer awareness symposium and a forthcoming public awareness campaign with free cancer screening in collaboration with the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Foundation.

The theme for this year’s World Cancer Day, ‘Close the Cancer Care Gap,’ underscores the ministry’s commitment to bridging the accessibility divide between low and high-income earners in society for quality and affordable cancer care services.

“This focuses on closing the gaps between the low and the high-income earners in our society with respect to access to quality and affordable cancer care services,” Kachollom said.

The health ministry’s Permanent Secretary also highlighted ongoing programmes aimed at assisting indigent cancer patients, focusing on early detection, prompt diagnosis, and treatment in alignment with global best practices.

According to Kachollom, the Ministry has instituted mandatory reviews by a Multidisciplinary Tumour Board (MDT) for all cancer patients in Tertiary Health Institutions, aiming for optimal treatment outcomes.

“Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, we have 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 emphasised.

The address furthermore expressed gratitude to participants for their involvement, emphasizing the collective goal of creating a future where cancer is manageable rather than a death sentence, and conveyed a hopeful vision for a world without gaps in cancer care.

Similarly, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, addressed reporters at the briefing, saying the Bola Tinubu-led administration is fully committed to ensuring effective cancer treatment and research.

He disclosed that the Federal Government is establishing six 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 to improve access to cancer care services.

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