The government lamented that the high rate of sickness and deaths from cancer in the country, particularly as early detection, cancer prevention, management and treatment have improved over the years in high-income countries with decreasing mortality and improved survival rates.
Speaking during the oncology stakeholders meeting and official unveiling of NICRAT, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Engr. Funso Adebiyi, expressed excitement about the prospects and solutions the institute would bring in reducing the prevalence of sickness and deaths from cancer.
Lafiya360 reports Engr. Adebiyi, who was represented by the Coordinator, National Cancer Control Program at the Ministry, Okpako Okpikpi, stated that the government will give the Institute the needed support to succeed in its mandate, as it places a premium on the health and wellbeing of Nigerians.
While noting that the establishment and unveiling of the NICRAT will be a gamechanger in cancer treatment and management, he urged all relevant stakeholders to support the Institute to achieve its mandate for the overall good of the country.
In his remarks, the Director-General of NICRAT, Dr Usman Aliyu, said, “Today, we gather here as a collective force, driven by a shared commitment to combat cancer and advance the field of oncology. Today’s meeting brings together a diverse group of experts, healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, pharmaceutical companies, patient advocates, and many others who have dedicated their lives to combating cancer.
“The power of collaboration cannot be overstated. By working together, we can leverage our collective expertise, resources, and experiences to accelerate progress and improve awareness and outcomes for cancer patients and their families.”
Former Minister of Health and Chairman of the occasion, Prof Isaac Adewole, in his remarks, added: “Cancer has become a global health issue of concern given the associated increased mortality and disability caused by it. In 2020, there were almost 18.1 million new cancer cases around the world. Early detection, cancer prevention, management and treatment have improved over the years in high-income countries with decreasing mortality and improved survival rates.
“However, the situation is different in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). With the rising population and exposure to risk factors, the number of new cancer incident cases has been rising significantly in LMICs in recent years.
“Early diagnosis of cancers is important for treatment options. Nigeria, according to the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) 2023 factsheet, has a population of 60.9 million women from age 15 who are at risk of developing cervical cancer. Majority of these cancer cases are first diagnosed in hospitals at an advanced stage when definitive cure is no longer feasible!
“Although incidence of cancer has been on the increase in many regions of the world, mortality is relatively higher in less developed countries like Nigeria due to the lack of access to treatment facilities, and late diagnosis, among others.
“The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates the top five commonest types of cancers in Nigeria as breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and liver cancer. These cancer types and the other less common kill about 80,000 Nigerians every year.
“With data showing that the cost of cancer treatment and management is not in sync with the income of most Nigerians suffering from any type of the disease, the government and other stakeholders must put a framework in place to encourage early diagnosis and access to affordable treatment and management. This, it is believed, would prevent late-stage diagnosis as well as help those suffering from the scourge to get proper treatment without them worrying over who pays the bill
“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 $5Billion 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 the society.
“It is good that the country’s healthcare system is tilting towards Universal Health Coverage (UCH) with the establishment of the Basic Health Care Provisions Fund (BHCPF) and health insurance schemes under the NHIA at both the national and state levels. There is a need to integrate cancer care lato all UHC programmes since poor Nigerians cannot pay out of pocket.”