Gom Mirian
In a bid to improve cancer care in Nigeria, the Director General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Usman Malami, has called on members of the Nigeria Society for Haematology and Blood Transfusion to support the institute’s efforts.
Prof. Malami made the call at the 2023 Annual Scientific Conference of the Nigeria Society for Haematology and Blood Transfusion in Abuja, noting that NICRAT is committed to improving cancer care and treatment in the country.
He emphasised the importance of collaboration and partnerships in the fight against cancer, noting that it is a complex disease that requires a multidisciplinary approach.
“We are counting seriously on your support. NICRAT is an institute that will have a very strong role to play in the area of research and treatment of malignancies and I want to assure you that this Society will not be left behind, henceforth, in the activities that we do,” Prof. Malami said.
He, however, disclosed that the Institute will soon establish a department for the management of haematological malignancies.
Hematologic malignancies are cancers that begin in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, or the cells of the immune system. Hematologic malignancies include leukaemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
He also assured that NICRAT will work closely with haematologists in the country, noting that: “We are currently at the foundation stage, trying to build the Institute so that shortly, we intend to have an institute that will house virtually all the scientists that are needed, most especially, in the area of medical oncology.
“In other countries, most of the oncologists double as medical oncologists. I believe that by the time the Institute matures, we will begin to have haematologists doubling as medical oncologists because definitely, we are going to have a department for that where leukaemia and, indeed, all other haematological malignancies will be managed.”
