By Gom Mirian
Prof. Isaac Adewole, Nigeria’s former Minister of Health, has tasked the federal government and stakeholders to create a system that will promote early detection of cancer.
Adewole, who stated this at the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT)’s official unveiling on Tuesday in Abuja, bemoaned the exorbitant cancer treatment in Nigeria, added that it is out of proportion to the economic situation of the majority of Nigerians.
According to him, this would prevent late-stage diagnosis, as well as help those suffering from the scourge to get proper treatment without worrying about who would foot the bill.
While lamenting the financial burden on most Nigerian cancer patients in the country, Prof. Adewole said: “Available records indicate that about 72-80% of cancer patients in Nigeria pay out of pocket for their care; an action not in tandem with reality since many are unable to afford it.
“For instance, breast surgery typically costs around N250,000 – an amount far beyond the reach of most patients. The economic loss due to cancer in Nigeria was estimated at over $ 5 billion in 2019.
“While the alarming rate of death from cancer points to the state of medical institutions in Nigeria, it is important for critical stakeholders to understand the danger the disease poses to the future of our country. It is bad enough that cancer is a terminal disease, it is worse when most Nigerian medical centres lack the diagnostic capacity to quickly detect and treat cancer infections.
“That should encourage discussions on how to fashion both preventive and curative solutions at all levels of society. There is a need to integrate cancer care into all UHC programmes since poor Nigerians cannot pay out of pocket.”
The Director General, NICRAT, Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, commended the Federal Government for establishing the Institute, which, according to him, will be aimed at improving cancer research and treatment in Nigeria.
