Prof Usman Aliyu, Director General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, revealed on Saturday that over 120,000 new cancer cases are recorded in Nigeria annually.
Prof Aliyu stated that an expected 78,000 Nigerians died as a consequence of cancer-related problems in 2020, with 44,699 being females and 34,200 being men.
Aliyu, who was represented by Hassan Zaggi, stated this during the seventh annual meeting of the Association of Nigeria Health Journalists in cooperation with the World Health Organisation in Nasarawa State.
According to him:
“With these gory statistics, NICRAT is determined to work with all relevant stakeholders to disrupt cancer in Nigeria through intense awareness creation and improved access to treatment and research.
“We have mapped out strategies to geometrically increase cancer experts in the country through training and retraining of all categories of health professionals.
“In our commitment and preparedness to disrupt all forms of cancers and ensure those with the illness have access to the best care and support in the country; we recently launched three strategic documents.
“The three documents include the National Strategic Cancer Control Plan 2023-2027; the National Cancer Research Agenda 2024-2027; and the National Strategic Plan for Prevention of Cancer of Uterine Cervix 2023-2027.”
He emphasised that the papers include key areas of action for governance, preventive, supply chain management, data and research, and surveillance, all of which are in line with the Ministry of Health’s present leadership’s goal of improving the health of all Nigerians.
cc: Punch Ng
