By Asmau Ahmad
The Nigeria’s Federal Government has inaugurated Brachytherapy Machines in five tertiary hospitals in Abuja to aid diagnosis and treatment of cancer through radiotherapy.
Brachytherapy is a type of internal treatment which uses radiation to destroy detected cancer cells and shrink tumours.
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said during the inauguration that the Ministry of Health would continue to increase access to cancer care services, especially diagnosis, chemotherapy and radiotherapy services.
He said, “we are currently adding radiotherapy services in some hospitals within the country and installing functional Brachytherapy machines at National Hospital Abuja (NHA) and University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu.
“Other benefiting facilities are University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in Edo, University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Oyo State and Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria, kaduna State.
“That of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) Sokoto will also be inaugurated in due course.”
Ehanire added that President Muhammadu Buhari approved a special intervention fund for upgrade and establishment of radiotherapy services in Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
According to him, other benefiting hospitals are University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) Maiduguri, and the Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina.
The minister explained that the approval also extends to provision of Nuclear Medicine facilities in Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos and Federal Teaching Hospital in Katsina.
He added that he will also present memos to council for procurement, installation and training on Radiotherapy and Nuclear medicine facilities at benefiting institutions before the end of March, 2023.
On the occasion of the 2023 World Cancer Day (WCD), he said that the annual celebration on February 4 is to draw global attention
to one of the world’s dreaded diseases.
He added that the Federal Government established the Cancer Health Fund (CHF) for comprehensive treatment of breast, cervical and prostate cancers to indigent patients at no cost across the six geopolitical zones.
The minister said that “steps are also being taken to improve cancer services to children, working with development partners for access to comprehensive treatment for childhood cancers which required attention.
