By Chioma Obinna

As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark this year’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, experts in cancer care have stressed the critical importance of data in the fight against childhood cancer.

The experts also emphasised the need for a comprehensive childhood cancer registry to better understand the disease’s burden, improve early detection, and plan effective treatment interventions.

Speaking at the 2nd Children Living With Cancer Foundation, CLWCF, Inaugural Lecture theme: “Hope in Numbers” the founder, Dr. Nneka Nwobbi said the lecture was a rallying call for collaboration among hospitals, government agencies, international partners, and communities affected by childhood cancer.

“The theme for this year’s lecture, “Hope in Numbers,” encapsulates the very essence of what we aim to achieve: leveraging the power of data to transform the lives of children facing the battle of childhood cancer.

“In a world where numbers often dictate policy and drive change, we must ensure that the data surrounding paediatric oncology becomes not just figures on a page but a beacon of hope for children and their families.”

Nwobbi said by working together, they could create a system that would provide the necessary data to drive real change in the lives of children battling the disease.

Noting that the fight against childhood cancer is not one that can be won alone, Nwobbi encouraged the audience to engage deeply with the discussions and presentations, to share their knowledge and experiences, and to leave the event more empowered and inspired to make a difference.

In his lecture tagged: “Importance of Childhood Cancer Registries”, the Founder & Pioneer Director of Ekiti Cancer Registry, and State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Dr. Abidemi Emmanuel Omonisi, noted that data is key to progress in the fight against childhood cancer.

Describing the establishment of the country’s first Childhood Cancer Registry at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) as a beacon of hope for children battling cancer in Nigeria, he said it would pave the way for improved childhood cancer care and research.

He said the importance of childhood cancer registry cannot be overstated, adding that Population Based Cancer Registries data utility was crucial for cancer research and control.

Omonisi emphasized that: “Science is driven by data, adding that reliable data on childhood cancer prevalence, types, and outcomes was essential for highlighting the burden of childhood cancer and securing resources for treatment and prevention.”

He said it would also help in tracking trends in childhood cancer to identify areas needing attention and help in conducting epidemiological and clinical studies to improve diagnosis, treatment, and ultimately, survival rates.

He said the childhood cancer registry will also help in developing and evaluating effective childhood cancer control programmes.

He disclosed that Nigeria currently has only one childhood cancer registry compared to 41 adult cancer registries.

Omonisi emphasized the need for more childhood cancer registries, citing the critical role of consultancy visits and training for their successful growth.

He said the success of childhood cancer control in Nigeria hinges on collaboration, highlighting the potential for international partnerships with organisations like the WHO and St. Jude Children’s Hospital to provide funding and expertise.