Expert calls on FG to establish more cancer treatment centers  for wider coverage

The Executive Director of Nostra Cancer Care Foundation, an NGO, Mrs Bridget Oyibo, has urged the Federal Government to establish more Radiology centres and provide additional machines  to support the  fight against cancer.

Oyibo made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN), on Wednesday, in Lagos.

According to her, the incidence of cancer in Nigeria was  low compared to some western countries such as in Europe, while the death rates in these countries were the same as Nigeria.

She attributed  the existing inequalities in access to the lack of care, prompt treatment and  Radiology centres and machines in the country, to further help fast track treatment and control of the disease .

The director emphasised the urgent need for intervention in the provision of Radiology centres and more facilities, to help reduce the number of deaths recorded due to cancer, saying that  government should, as a matter of policy and urgency, intervene to save the trend.

Oyibo also called on all stakeholders to collectively support the government in establishing cancer care centres as a national priority.

She also enjoined state and local governments to join hands in creating awareness and sensitising people at the grassroots about the disease.

“Most of the people suffering from the disease are from rural areas and are in dire need of   government intervention by coming  to their aid on treatment, counselling and sensitisation.

“Cancer treatment is  a most expensive treatment and partnership is  key in achieving cure and care for the patients. In some hospitals, there is no radiology machine and cancer has become a hopeless sickness in Nigeria,” she said.

Oyibo advised people to go for regular tests, as well as  consume nutritional foods in order to fight the disease.

She added that having more machines in place and also training the personnel further on how to operate the facilities would help save lives.

“What to do we have, but the facilities are not enough and we need more modern facilities because the little we have are over stretched

“I advise cancer patients to listen to their doctors and avoid self-acclaimed specialists or unprofessional fraudsters who defraud gullible patients. Cancer kills but it can also be cured,” she said.