Nigeria Commemorates 2024 World Cancer Day

Nigeria has joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2024 World Cancer Day (WCD).

World Cancer Day is observed on February 4 every year. The day aims to promote awareness about cancer. It also helps to strengthen actions that strive to improve cancer care, detection, preventive measures and treatment.

The theme for World Cancer Day 2024 is ‘Close the care gap: Everyone deserves access to cancer care.’ It is a part of a 3-year long campaign from 2022 to 2024.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with PUNCH Healthwise, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Cancer Society, Dr Adamu Umar said the economic crisis in the country has further worsened the plight of cancer patients in Nigeria.

He noted that the depreciation of the naira and the lack of holistic health coverage have increased the cost of care, leading to the death of some cancer patients who could no longer afford treatment costs.

Recall that the President, Bola Tinubu had announced the removal of fuel subsidy in May 2023, the prices of goods and services witnessed an unprecedented increase.

Subsequently, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s decision to float the naira against other currencies led to naira depreciation and inflation.

Also, the exit of the British pharmaceutical giant, GlaxoSmithKline, in August 2023, led to over 300 to 900 per cent rise in the prices of drugs.

As a result, patients with long-term non-communicable diseases have continued to lament their inability to afford essential drugs.

As a result, patients with long-term non-communicable diseases have continued to lament their inability to afford essential drugs.

According to the president of the NCS, which is a collation of cancer advocates in Nigeria, many cancer patients can no longer afford their medications.

Speaking on the country’s current cancer rate, the NCS president stated that there were 120,000 new cases, of which 80,000 patients have died.

Umar said that although cancer cases among children increased, it cannot be compared to that of adults.

He added that due to the lack of harmonisation in data collection, the prevalence rate of cancer in Nigeria was unknown.

Umar, however, stated that 10,000 new cases were recorded within three months in 2023, indicating an improvement in diagnosis and early hospital presentation.