… as minister seeks increased funding from NASS to strengthen infrastructure, others

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

The federal government yesterday, said two of the six cancer treatment centres being established across the country will be ready for use by May 2025.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammad Pate, disclosed this in Abuja during an event organised by the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, NICRAT, in commemoration of the International Cancer Week, ICW.

The minister said the centres would be hubs for diagnostics, treatment, and oncology workforce training, aiming to turn previously fatal diagnoses into manageable or curable conditions.

He, however, called on the National Assembly to increase funding to strengthen infrastructure, equipment, healthcare staffing, and financial support for patients just as he highlighted the importance of affordable cancer care to alleviate both individual and national economic burdens.

Pate, who signed a Memorandum of Understanding,MoU, with Roche Pharmaceuticals to combat breast cancer, at the event, reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing cancer comprehensively.

The partnership, known as the African Breast Cancer Initiative, ABCA, seeks to leverage resources from the federal government, the World Health Organization, WHO, and Roche to advance early diagnosis, research, treatment, and palliative care for breast cancer.

The minister stressed the need for expanded early detection programs, including HPV and HBV vaccinations, which are making strides, and emphasized the need for broader access to screening tools like mammograms, colonoscopies, and PSA tests.

On his part, NICRAT’s Director General, Prof. Usman Aliyu, explained that the MOU targets breast cancer, the most prevalent cancer in Nigeria, emphasizing that early diagnosis, a primary goal of the initiative, is crucial for one of the most treatable cancers if detected promptly.

He said: “The ABCA initiative aims to transform Nigeria’s breast cancer outcomes, where survival rates lag behind higher-income countries. While early-stage diagnosis in the West yields a survival rate of 80%, the survival rate in Nigeria is significantly lower due to late diagnosis and limited access to care.

“This partnership emphasizes early detection through widespread screening and awareness campaigns, which will be funded collaboratively by the Nigerian government, Roche, and WHO.

“Early diagnosis would lower treatment costs, reduce the need for complex surgeries, and ultimately decrease breast cancer mortality and morbidity in Nigeria. “

Also speaking at the event, the General Manager of Roche Nigeria, Ladi Hameed, said part of the MOU is already in progress.

He affirmed the organization’s commitment to the partnership and expanding the catastrophe fund, especially for cancer, patient equipment, care, and palliative support.

On his part, the World Health Organization,WHO Country Representative, Walter Mulombo who also noted that cancer is preventable, also echoed the same sentiment about awareness, early detection and diagnosis.

Represented by Alex Chimbaru, the Deputy Country Representative, Mulombo said cancer treatment should be made accessible and affordable, while Nigeria should endeavour to adopt and implement global initiatives that have been proving effective in combating the disease.