A cancer organisation, Health & Psychological Trust Centre Project PINK BLUE, has called on the federal and state governments, as well as the private sector, to invest in advanced cancer technologies, precision medicine, and medical equipment instead of just building hospitals.
Speaking during their 10th World Cancer Day walk, race, cycle, ride, and marathon against cancer at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Executive Director of Project PINK BLUE, Runcie Chidebe, noted that cancer is now a critical public health problem in Nigeria, with 127,763 new cases of cancer and 79,542 cancer deaths in 2022.
He noted that Nigeria has the highest burden of cancer in all of sub-Saharan Africa, adding that building beautiful cancer hospitals is good, but buildings alone cannot save cancer patients, nor can they reduce the burden of cancer in Nigeria or provide the best treatment for cancer patients.
He said, “Today, we are calling on the Federal and State governments and all other private sector partners to invest in advanced cancer technologies, precision medicine, targeted therapy, and medical equipment instead of just building hospitals.”
He stated that it is excellent cancer equipment such as PET CT scans, brachytherapy, and newer radiotherapy machines that can be used to detect and treat patients.
He said, “It is the advanced medicines, such as precision medicine, including targeted therapy, that can target the cancerous tumor that is most needed in Nigeria. It is the empowerment of the cancer workforce, such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, pathologists, and other professionals who would operate the machines and prescribe the medicines that would save cancer patients.
“Instead of just building, the government and private sector partners should invest in the existing cancer centers and hospitals and use the funds for buying blocks and aluminum to purchase the equipment, precision medicine, advanced medicines, and workforce.”
Also speaking, Gloria Okwu, a breast cancer survivor and programme coordinator of Project PINK BLUE, said, “This is Project PINK BLUE’s 10th year of hosting World Cancer Day activities in Nigeria. Since 2015, we have been mobilizing and bringing Abuja people together to raise awareness and advocate for better cancer care in Nigeria.
“For the past 10 years, we have brought together over 20,000 Nigerians to our walk, provided over 5,000 cancer screenings, and supported over 500 cancer patients. We have propelled advocacies that have led to the improvement of government policies for better cancer control, including the advocacy for the establishment of the National Institute on Cancer Treatment and Research (NICRAT) and Cancer Health Fund.
“This year’s World Cancer Day theme is ‘UNITED BY UNIQUE.’ As a cancer survivor myself, this year’s theme resonates with me greatly. It means that cancer is more than just a medical diagnosis; cancer is a deeply personal matter, and behind every diagnosis lies a unique human story. This could be a story of grief, pain, healing, resilience, love, and otherwise.
“For this reason, every cancer is unique, and we must be united to create a world where we look beyond the disease and see the person before the patient. Hence, the government and all partners in cancer care and treatment should adopt a patient-centered approach to cancer care and treatment and not a one-size-fits-all approach.”
World Cancer Day is a global event established in the year 2000 by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). Learn more: [World Cancer Day Website]
