Health
THE Federal Government has inaugurated Brachy Therapy Machines in five tertiary hospitals in Abuja to aid diagnosis and treatment of cancer through radiotherapy.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Brachytherapy is a type of internal treatment which uses radiation to destroy detected cancer cells and shrink tumors.
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said during the inauguration that the Ministry of Health would continue to increase access to cancer care services, especially diagnosis, chemotherapy and radiotherapy services.
He said “we are currently adding radiotherapy services in some hospitals within the country and installing functional Brachytherapy machines at National Hospital Abuja (NHA) and University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu.
“Other benefiting facilities are University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in Edo, University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Oyo State and Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria, kaduna State.
“That of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) Sokoto will also be inaugurated in due course.”
Ehanire added that President Muhammadu Buhari approved a special intervention fund for upgrade and establishment of radiotherapy services in Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
According to him, other benefiting hospitals are University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) Maiduguri, and the Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina.
The minister explained that the approval also extends to provision of Nuclear Medicine facilities in Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos and Federal Teaching Hospital in Katsina.
He said “I shall also be presenting memos to council for procurement, installation and training on Radiotherapy and Nuclear medicine facilities at benefiting institutions before the end of March.
On the occasion of the 2023 World Cancer Day (WCD), he said that the annual celebration on Feb. 4 is to draw global attention to one of the world’s dreaded diseases.
He quoted the World Health Organisation (WHO) as saying that cancer is a leading cause of multiple of deaths worldwide.
He said that the theme of the 2023 WCD, “Closing the Cancer Care Gap”, seeks to address the dichotomy between different social classes regarding cancer care.
He said “the Federal Ministry Health under my leadership has achieved several feats in improving access to quality and affordable cancer services nationwide.”
He explained that the ministry collaborated with partners to introduce the Cancer Access Partnership (CAP) programme aimed at providing quality anticancer medicines to patients at discounted rates.
Ehanire said that the CAP programme currently operates in 16 tertiary hospitals nationwide, adding that more than 3,500 cancer patients are currently accessing care under the programme.
He added that the Federal Government established the Cancer Health Fund (CHF) for comprehensive treatment of breast, cervical and prostate cancers to indigent patients at no cost across the six geopolitical zones.
The minister said that “steps are also being taken to improve cancer services to children, working with development partners for access to comprehensive treatment for childhood cancers which required attention.
“The ministry is collaborating with the global community to give priority to the treatment of cervical cancer, which is the second most common cancer in Nigeria.
“We are committed and determined to eliminate cancer of the cervix by the year 2030, in line with the WHO target.
“Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine is being introduced into the National Programme on Immunisation, as we scale up secondary cancer prevention being funded by the Clinton Health Access Initiative.
“The programme started in Lagos, Rivers and Kaduna states and now scaled up to involve Niger, Kebbi, Ondo and Ekiti states.”
The President of Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS), Dr Adamu Umar, commended Federal Government’s contributions toward cancer prevention and control in the country.
He, however, added that in spite of the huge achievements, there were huge care gaps in the areas of access to cancer care, cancer registration, low budgetary provision to health and cancer research, among others.
He said “it is, therefore, expedient for all hands to be on deck toward addressing these gaps as we target to achieve Universal Health Coverage.
“It is our hope and prayer that the various achievements made so far will be sustained beyond the current administration.”
The General Manager, Roche Nigeria, Dr Ladi Hameed, said that the launch of the Brachytherapy equipment was a laudable achievement and called for additional programmes to improve accuracy in diagnosis.
Highlighting the work of the Brachytherapy, Mr Benjamin Ubiri, said it could be used separately without surgery and the result would be the same as when a patient undergoes surgery.(NAN)
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Tags: Adamu Umar Brachy Therapy Machines Osagie Ehanire Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital
