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A don, Prof. Emeka Iweala, on Thursday, appealed to governments at all levels to provide more funds for the health sector.
Mr Iweala, a professor of Biochemistry at the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun, made the appeal during an interview in Ota, Ogun State.
According to him, provision of more funds for the sector will enable Nigerians to have access to quality health care.
He added that such funds would enhance more research into some serious diseases such as cancer which, he said, had become one of the major causes of death among Nigerians.
Mr Iweala also called on the federal and state governments to build more hospitals across the country and equip them with modern facilities.
“For this reason, our governments need to redouble their efforts toward providing adequate funds to tackle some deadly diseases such as cancer,” he said.
He also identified multiple factors such as genetics, environment and culture as leading causes of breast cancer and other types of cancer.
He, however, commended the Federal Government for establishing the Nigeria Institute of Cancer Research and Treatment to coordinate research efforts geared toward improving treatment of cancer.
“The Federal Government is making efforts to fight and win the battles against cancer, as various measures have been put in place to tackle the deadly disease,” he said.
He also urged Nigerians to participate in awareness programmes being organised by various organisations to be abreast of the treatment of some deadly diseases.
“The point is that many Nigerians are not aware of awareness programmes; even when they know, they are always afraid of participating in such programmes,” he said.
Mr Iweala stressed the need for the government to create awareness on breast cancer and other forms of cancers to reduce their prevalence in the country.
“We need to let our people know what cancer is as well as the risk factor and the symptoms. In addition, we should let them know what to do when they see these symptoms, which is to go to the hospital and get the necessary diagnosis and treatment,” he said.
According to him, having cancer is not a death sentence, adding that it is a curable disease.
(NAN)
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