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Prof. Enoch Afolayan of the Department of Morbid Anatomy Histopathology, University of Ilorin, has urged the Federal and state governments to procure millions of doses of vaccines against Hepatitis viruses for the general public.
Afolayan, who spoke to newsmen on cancer in Ilorin on Monday, also appealed to philanthropists across the country to launch foundations in supporting cancer control activities.
The theme of the 2023 World Cancer Day is: “Close the care Gap: Uniting our voices and taking action,” which seeks to summon like-minded people to be united in the fight against cancer.
He said: “There is a need for procurement of mammography machines for early detection of breast cancer. This is the commonest cancer in Nigeria today.
“We need to show love to our mothers who are the main victims of this scourge. Also sponsorship for free PAP smear screening centres for early detection of cervical cancer, occult blood in stool, and sigmoidoscopy for colorectal cancer.”
The don, who teaches in the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences of Unilorin, stressed the need to subsidise cancer treatment by way of supporting cancer patients in areas of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.
He recommended palliative care for terminal cancer patients, noting that such care should be accessible, available, and affordable by supporting and establishing hospices.
The expert added that the terminal phase of cancer is very painful and deeply agonising not only for the patients but also for their relatives who look after them.
“Now that cancer is no longer a death sentence, we must do more to help survivors live comfortably to overcome various challenges and denials associated with its stigma.”
The expert on cancer treatment warned that the disease has become a growing global epidemic with a disproportional share of its death in low and middle-income countries such as Nigeria.
He however decried the dearth of the number of Population-Based Cancer Registry (PBCR) in Nigeria, while urging the government to establish more.
Afolayan warned people to avoid smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol, adding that they should also avoid Ultra Violet (UV) radiation.
He advised people to reduce excess weight, eat properly and avoid exposure to industrial and environmental toxins.
(NAN)
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