40% Of Cancer Cases Can Be Prevented In Nigeria – Minister

Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has disclosed that 40 per cent of cancer cases can be prevented in Nigeria, if people can change their sedentary lifestyles.

Adewole made the assertion recently, while addressing newsmen at the inspection of the new Cancer Treatment Centre at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos.

The Minister said that cancer prevention could be achieved when people change their lifestyles, especially the way they move around, sleep, eat, what they drink and majorly, staying away from tobacco and tobacco products.

According to him, “The main purpose of investing in this cancer treatment centre is to treat more people in the country, rather than having them travel abroad for treatment.

“Also, the best place to treat patients is when they are among their people and seeing their relations everyday.

“So, we are trying to achieve that and save people’s money because it will be cheaper than travelling outside.

“We noticed that treatment is beyond the modalities that it offers.

“Three modalities for cancer treatment are chemotherapy, radiation and surgery because most cancer cases are always presented late.

“Improving awareness on cancer treatment will make people to come early for treatment and reduce late presentation of cancer cases.”

He also said that the plan was to replicate the centre in many health institutions across the country.

“There will also be long time maintenance contract that will enable us to manage the cancer machine.

“The cancer treatment centre is almost ready, so by February, this centre will start operation fully for the benefits of the patients.”

According to the minister, apart from the Cancer Treatment Centre, Federal Ministry of Health had flagged off  the basic healthcare provision fund.

He said: “The main reason is to provide resource from the Federal down to all the state facilities and also to the local government level.

“We will also be providing some free basic services to the people such as immunisation services, delivery services, tuberculosis services, checking of blood pressure, urine test and treatment of under-five children.

“We will also be partnering with the state governments by making sure that the state provides infrastructure, while the Federal Government provides money to maintain it.

“We are also moving ahead by producing adequate doctors in all health facilities, retain our health professionals by providing necessary equipment, funds and also attract many doctors back to Nigeria.

“We already have the manpower, that is enough experts for cancer treatment, but we are trying to also retrain our experts on how to maintain and use the machine properly.

“I want people to know that healthcare is inevitable to invest in, so I am calling on people to invest more in healthcare system in the country.”