Sokoto: NICRAT trains 46 health workers on early detection of hepatitis, cancer

The National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), as part of its efforts to equip healthcare workers at primary, secondary, and tertiary health facilities, has trained no fewer than 46 health workers on the early detection of hepatitis and chronic liver cancer in patients.

The two-day capacity-building program aimed to provide contemporary and cutting-edge knowledge to enable the workers to perform optimally by delivering quality diagnosis and care to those in need.

Speaking while declaring the workshop open on Monday, the Director-General of the agency, Professor Usman Malami Aliyu, said NICRAT is a federal government agency under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, tasked with national leadership in cancer research, treatment, prevention, and control in Nigeria.

Represented by a consultant of the agency, Dr Nandi Ishaya Tokkit, the DG said that since its inception in early 2023, NICRAT has initiated various strategies aimed at reducing the burden of all forms of cancer in Nigeria.

“One such strategy is organising training and retraining for healthcare workers on various aspects of cancer care, prevention, treatment, and control, with the most recent being the training of biomedical engineers and medical physicists across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

“The theme of this training, ‘Early detection and management of chronic hepatitis and liver cancer,’ is very apt and timely, considering the high incidence of hepatitis and liver cancers across our healthcare facilities in Nigeria.

“The training is, therefore, aimed at equipping health workers with the requisite knowledge to detect such health conditions early for proper treatment. We believe that early detection is key to successful treatment.”

The DG further stated that the agency is doing everything within its power to create awareness for people in all corners of the country to understand how to prevent themselves from all forms of cancer, including hepatitis and liver cancer.

“It is important to also note that NICRAT is leveraging the massive support and encouragement from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare under the leadership of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Isiaq Salako. NICRAT will not take this support for granted.”

“NICRAT also firmly believes that the training and retraining of healthcare workers remain a good investment in healthcare service delivery at all levels. This, we consider our backbone and will continue to replicate it at every given opportunity.”

He, however, commended the massive support from the Sokoto State Government through the Ministry of Health, especially for opening doors of collaboration to ensure effective and efficient healthcare service delivery in the state. “This gesture, we hope, will be sustained for the good of our people.”

Also speaking in her remarks, the Sokoto State team lead for the capacity building, Dr Aliyu Samaila Musawa, said the training is meant for primary and secondary healthcare workers.

He stated that the program, which was in collaboration with the Sokoto State Ministry of Health, comprises 23 medical officers and primary healthcare workers from the 23 local government areas of the state.

“We intend to train 46 health workers across the 23 local government areas in the state.

“The key objective of the training is to build capacity at both the secondary and primary healthcare facilities to help them acquire the requisite knowledge to detect and manage chronic hepatitis B and C.

“It is also aimed at detecting early liver cancer in order to reduce the mortality associated with it.”

Dr Musawa, however, appealed to the participants to pay utmost attention to the training so that they can return home with valuable knowledge that will enable them to step down the training to their colleagues.

He said NICRAT aims to ensure that the training is not only stepped down but also continues going forward.

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