President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has flagged off the ultramodern Cancer Centre of David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Tinubu, represented at the ceremony by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, urged the institution’s management to ensure that medical tourism and educational tourism come to an end.
“I am happy there is no cultism in this university. I commend the university very highly. I want you to look into the hospital section. I fought so many battles here; I don’t want my efforts wasted.”
In support and promotion of excellence, the best graduating students who are natives of Ebonyi and Ohaozara LGAs received consolation prizes of one million naira each.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Jesse Uneke, disclosed that DUFUTHS Cancer Centre has already treated a total of 207 cancer patients so far.
According to Uneke, the patients comprise 88 (42.5%) males and 119 (57.5%) females. A total of 107 (51.7%) of the patients were aged between 40 and 69 years old. The most common cancers were breast cancer (53 or 25.6%), prostate cancer (43 or 39.8%), cancer of the cervix (25 or 12.1%), and cancer of the head/neck (32 or 15.5%).
“The DUFUHS Cancer Centre is a state-of-the-art centre of excellence for cancer research, training, and patient care. The centre operates with a multidisciplinary team of experts specialising in conducting research and training on cancer-related issues and caring for people with cancer diseases. The centre conducts and supports research, training, health information dissemination, and other programmes related to the cause, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer, rehabilitation from cancer, and the continuing care of cancer patients and the family of cancer patients.
“According to the World Health Organization Global Cancer Observation (GLOBOCON) report of 2022, a total of 127,763 new cases of cancer were reported in Nigeria. Of this number, 48,096 (37.6%) were males while 79,667 (62.4%) were females. The report indicated the number of deaths at 79,542, of which 32,905 (41.4%) were males while 46,637 were females. The report added that the top three leading cancers in males in Nigeria, ranked by the number of deaths, are prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and liver cancer, while in females, the top three leading cancer deaths are caused by breast cancer, cervical cancer, and colorectal cancer.”
Professor Uneke also noted that DUFUHS offers free healthcare services to an average of 600 Nigerians on a daily basis.
He said, “The centre operates with a multidisciplinary team of experts specialising in conducting research and training on cancer-related issues, and caring for people with cancer diseases.”
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