The Federal Government is conducting administrative assessment to understand the challenges in the treatment of cancer and how it could be improved.
The National Coordinator of the National Cancer Control Programme, Ramatu Hassan, stated this on Tuesday.
The coordinator said this at the Project Pink Blue World Cancer Day commemoration in Abuja.
Ramatu Hassan
She said a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) showed that over 100,000 Nigerians were diagnosed with cancer annually, of which, 80,000 die from the disease.
She added that “in view of this alarming trend, Federal Government is partnering with relevant stakeholders to reduce cancer-related cases in the country as part of activities to commemorate the 2017 World Cancer Day.”
The Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Health, Mohammed Usman who was at the event, stressed the need for improved budgetary allocation to the health sector, especially for tertiary cases like cancer.
The Executive Director, Project Pink Blue, Runcie Chidebe, called for partnership to educate citizens on the need for check-up, screening and early detection of suspected cancer cases.
He said there was need for government, international and private stakeholders to champion the course to reduce cancer mortality in the country.
Highpoint of the event was the launch of the Abuja Breast Cancer Support Group as part of 2017 strategies to dramatically reduce cancer cases in Nigeria.
