THE Federal Government on Wednesday, said no fewer than 72,000 people across the country die annually from cancer-related diseases while about 102,000 new cases are recorded every year.
To reverse the rising trend in the death that occurred from cancer, arrangements had been concluded by the federal government to establish nine cancer centre across the country.
The Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, who disclosed this in Akure, Ondo State capital, during the 20th anniversary of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) described the rate of breast and cervical cancers among women as alarming saying the disease is responsible for over 50 percent of deaths in the country.
The health minister who was represented by the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile-Ife Osun State, Prof Victor Adetiloye, however, said the Federal government has concluded all arrangements to establish dedicated cancer chemotherapy ward in nine of the Federal Tertiary Health institutions across the country.
According to him, the establishment of the centres would complement the cancer centres in the country while he noted that the existing National Cancer Control Plan has expired, hence the need for new one.
He said “we have developed a new National Cancer Control Plan 2018 to 2022. This National Cancer Control Plan is the product of an extensive inter-sectoral collaboration involving government, academia, bilateral and multilateral organisation and civil society.
“This National Cancer Control Plan provides a clear roadmap as to how the Ministry envisions cancer controls efforts for the country to be within the next five years and beyond.
“Beyond the cancer patients and their families, this plan will serve as launch pad to reduce the incidence and prevalence of cancer in Nigeria.”
He expressed the Federal Government determination to fight the scourge in the country saying the present administration in the country has remained in the forefront of the fight against cancer in the country.
Also speaking, the Ondo state governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, said plans are underway to establish a Cancer Centre in the state to take care and help those suffering from the dreaded disease.
He disclosed that his administration would always be ready to establish a synergy with BRECAN and other Non-Government Organizations to eradicate cancer in the country.
The wife of the governor and founder of BRECAN, Mrs Betty Akeredolu urged women suffering from cancer not to see the disease as a death sentence.
She explained that she set up the organisation two decades ago to create awareness that early detection of the disease can help to in the treatment of cancer.
She advised women against the misconception that breast cancer is caused by witches or spiritual attack while she called on government to help create better awareness about breast cancer.
Apart from this, Mrs Akeredolu also implored government at all levels to design and implement an appropriate policy to tackle cancer in the country.
Mrs Akeredolu said the government should equip hospitals and have more cancer centres across the country, saying the delay in detection and treatment of cancer will soon be a thing of the past.
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