The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, on Sunday said the Federal Government has concluded plans to roll out nationwide screening for most common types of cancer.
The minister via a statement issued by Boade Akinola, director of media and public relations of the ministry in Abuja, also said individuals have roles to play to check cancer.
Adewole spoke at a ceremony to mark the 2018 World Cancer Day, with the theme โWe can, I can.โ
According to the minister, the screening will be on the most common types of cancer, such as breast and cervical cancer in women and prostate cancer among men.
He stated that this year’s theme was geared towards exploring individual and collective drive in reducing the global burden of cancer.
Adewole, a professor, said individuals could play their role in fighting cancer through healthy lifestyle choices by engaging in weekly physical activities for at least two and half hours for adult, and an hour for children.
He said other lifestyle modifications included avoiding tobacco smoking and eating a healthy diet, limiting alcohol intake and staying safe under the sun.
Adewole also emphasised that high index of suspicion for early symptoms and signs of cancer were important, because finding cancer early makes it easier to treat and cure.
The minister appealed to communities to dispel myths and misconceptions that led to stigma and discrimination against people living with the disease.
Adewole said the commissioning of a new radiotherapy machine at National Hospital Abuja, recently, would provide easy access to radiation treatment for Nigerians.
He added that additional new machine was donated by SHELL Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) and would be in operational at National Hospital Abuja in the next few months.
He added that the facility at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) would be offering full and uninterrupted services from June 2018.
โIn spite of the numerous interventions by the government and other partners, some factors are militating against efforts to effectively combat the scourge of cancer in Nigeria.
โThe key barriers to treatment of cancer in Nigeria, are: poor awareness, poor health seeking behaviour, low level of non-governmental investments, low number of skilled health care personnel, funding gaps, amongst others,” Mr. Adewole said.
He said government was committed to the development of the Public Private Partnership strategies to address the funding gaps and manpower shortages to surmount these barriers.
…LEAH reiterates commitment to reducing disease in Kwara
As the world marks Cancer Day on Sunday, LEAH Foundation has restated its commitment to bring the disease to its barest minimum in Kwara State.
The foundation, a member of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stated its avowed determination to assist in realizing the target of 25 percent reduction in cancer in future.
This was revealed in a tweet on the twitter handle of the foundation yesterday to commemorate the day.
It reads: โWorld Cancer Day is a chance to reflect on what you can do, make a pledge and take action. The day brings to fore the issue of millions of people world-wide facing unequal access to cancer detection, treatment, and care services. With cancer leaders, health professionals and supporters across the world pushing for urgent action to reduce the rate of premature cancer deaths globally, it calls for diagnostic and treatment access to be prioritized.
โThe global target of a 25% reduction in premature deaths from cancer and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by 2025 is possible.
โHowever, to deliver on this global commitment, the current inequities in risk factor exposure, and in access to screening, early detection and timely and appropriate treatment and care, must be addressed.โ
Towards this end, the LEAH Foundation is billed to commission a comprehensive diagnostic, treatment and care centre for Breast and Cervical Cancers in Ilorin, Kwara State capital this year.
Meanwhile, as an urgent response to the global equity gap and the critical need for an in-country response, UICC yesterday officially launched, Treatment for All.
According to Chief Executive Officer of UICC, Dr Cary Adams, โThe tsunami of cancer cases anticipated in the coming decades requires a persuasive and robust response at all levels โ global and national. Treatment for All, in tandem with its sister initiative, C/Can 2025: City Cancer Challenge, will work to accelerate progress by translating global commitments to evidence-, safety- and quality-based national actions.
โ Over the last seven years, the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) has united the cancer community to position cancer on the global health and development agenda, with the inclusion of cancer and non-communicable diseases in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 and culminating in the successful adoption of a cancer resolution at the World Health Assembly in 2017.
‘Treatment for All’ is the name of a new, bold and inspiring advocacy initiative. It calls on the international cancer community to address the global equity gap in access to cancer services by getting behind four essential pillars of cancer treatment and care.โ
